Himachal govt hikes prices at ration depots; wheat flour, rice, oil get costlier

Mandi: The Himachal Pradesh government has increased the prices of essential commodities sold at subsidised rates through fair price shops, commonly known as ration depots. The prices of wheat flour and rice have been hiked this month, while mustard oil prices were raised last month.

The hike affects both Above Poverty Line (APL) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cardholders, sparking concerns among consumers.

For APL cardholders, the price of wheat flour has risen from Rs 9.30 per kg to Rs 12 per kg, a hike of Rs 2.70 per kg. Similarly, the price of rice has been increased from Rs 10 per kg to Rs 13 per kg.

The BPL category, which previously received extra wheat flour at Rs 7 per kg, will now pay Rs 9.30 per kg. The price of rice, earlier at Rs 6.85 per kg, has been raised by Rs 3.15, making it Rs 10 per kg. Mustard oil, which was priced at Rs 113 per liter, was increased to Rs 123 per liter last month. Notably, the oil prices remain the same for both APL and BPL categories.

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Vijay Singh Hamal, Controller of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs in District Mandi, confirmed that the new rates for oil were implemented last month, while the revised prices for wheat flour and rice took effect this month. The increase applies to extra rations, with no change to the fixed quotas of ration supplies.

Appeal for concessions

Residents of Mandi have voiced their concerns over the increased prices, urging the government to consider the impact on economically weaker sections. Consumers Kusum, Haripriya and Tara Sharma have appealed to the government to maintain the quality of ration supplies and continue concessions for the lower-income groups. They stressed that these measures are essential for the sustenance of families relying on government-provided ration.

“The government should prioritise the needs of low-income households and avoid frequent price hikes,” said a local consumer. “Concessions on essential commodities are crucial for our daily survival.”
The latest price hike at fair price shops has drawn widespread criticism, with many calling on the government to reassess its pricing strategy to protect vulnerable sections of society.