Pune district ration distribution has begun for more than 10 lakh eligible cardholders under the National Food Security Act, with supplies being made available through 2,578 fair-price shops across rural and urban areas, according to a report by Pudhari – Pune.
The distribution network includes 1,887 shops in rural areas and 691 shops in urban parts of the district. The programme covers beneficiaries registered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and the Priority Household (PHH) category, including eligible families in drought-affected talukas.
The district has 54,328 ration-card holders registered under the AAY category, while 9,46,889 cardholders are listed under the PHH category. Foodgrain for both groups is being distributed through the public distribution system.
In urban areas, an allocation of 147.75 metric tonnes of wheat and 98.50 metric tonnes of rice has been reported for AAY beneficiaries. For the PHH category, the urban allocation includes 4,145.35 metric tonnes of wheat and 2,723.75 metric tonnes of rice.
The report also lists separate rural allocations. AAY beneficiaries in rural areas have been allocated 1,043.944 metric tonnes of wheat and 616.876 metric tonnes of rice. For PHH beneficiaries, the reported allocation is 7,287.39 metric tonnes of wheat and 4,858.26 metric tonnes of rice.
The distribution is being carried out through fair-price shops serving both municipal and rural populations. This gives the network a substantial administrative role in ensuring that subsidised foodgrain reaches households spread across Pune district, including families in areas identified as drought-affected.
The figures indicate that the public distribution system is serving a much larger PHH beneficiary base than the AAY category in the district. Of the more than 10 lakh cardholders covered by the two categories, nearly 9.47 lakh are registered as priority households, while 54,328 are AAY cardholders.
For residents, access to the allocation depends on the functioning of the designated fair-price shops and the availability of grain through the distribution chain. The urban network alone comprises 691 shops, while rural beneficiaries are served through 1,887 outlets across the district.
Pudhari – Pune reported that grain distribution is currently under way through the public distribution system. The report did not provide a separate completion date or details of any revised schedule for individual shops.
