Sugar will soon be included in the ration supply for poor families in Punjab, as the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government plans to distribute essential grocery items ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, The Indian Express reported.
The proposal, which will be placed before the Cabinet on Monday for approval, includes 2 kg of sugar along with 2 kg of chana dal, 1 litre of mustard oil, 1 kg of salt and 200 grams of turmeric for nearly 40 lakh beneficiary families. These families are covered under the existing atta-dal scheme and are registered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Smart Ration Card Scheme.
In a statement issued late Sunday, the government said it is set to launch a new initiative called the “Punjab Government Food Programme” to provide ration kits to eligible households. The Cabinet is expected to formally approve the scheme. The government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, said around Rs 1,000 crore will be allocated annually to ensure the programme runs without disruption, adding that financial constraints will not stand in the way of its implementation.
Sources said the final clearance for the plan came from AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. The scheme is being introduced on the lines of a similar programme run by the party in Delhi. At present, beneficiary families receive 15 kg of wheat every quarter. Under the new arrangement, they will get an additional bag containing the listed grocery items along with the wheat.
The distribution is scheduled to begin in April 2026, with subsequent rounds likely in June, October and December, just before the election code of conduct takes effect.
The move is expected to cost the state exchequer about Rs 1,000 crore every year. Officials said the items will be provided per family rather than per individual to keep costs manageable, as the state continues to face financial pressure.
Punjab’s atta-dal scheme, launched in 2007 by the then SAD-BJP government, provides 5 kg of wheat per family member. It was later revised in 2013 under the National Food Security Act, after which beneficiaries began receiving wheat free of cost. The state now spends Rs 50–60 crore annually on wheat transportation.
Previous governments had also made promises to expand the scheme. The Congress had pledged free dal and tea leaves before the 2017 elections but did not implement the plan due to a lack of funds. Before the National Food Security Act came into force, the state had accumulated wheat purchase dues of Rs 900 crore. The outstanding amount remains unpaid, and PUNSUP, the agency handling wheat procurement, continues to pay monthly interest of Rs 5.25 crore.
