It seems that the distribution of atta, sugar has become a headache for the provincial governments. Punjab went in for sasti roti. As compared to the Rs 5 per rote, the government is forcing tandoorwallas to sell rote at Rs 2. The government is subsidising the sale of sasti roti at tremendous cost to the provincial exchequer. It may have succeeded in gaining popularity but the government cannot afford this concession forever.
At some stage the government will have to withdraw the subsidy the people will then resent as an intrusion on their right to get sasti roti. The battle for the control of sugar prices has brought a bad name for policy makers and creates ill feelings between mill owners, traders and the public. Government negotiations failed due to mill owners pressure, as most mill owners are influential people related to the ministers, MNAs, MPAs. Confusion prevails even after the Prime Minister fixed the sugar price at Rs 45 per kilo at the wholesale, and Rs 47 at the retail rates. a hide and seek game is being played with the public on availability, in some far-flung areas.
The government has taken over the distribution of atta and sugar by establishing points. Confusion exists and generally the police is called in to control public. The old system of distribution, through ration cards under the control of district Food Controller should be set up to streamline the availability of atta, sugar, ghee, dals and rice at the ration depots. This scheme worked during the early days of Partition. The District Food Controller still exists at the district level. The system be revived with some revamping and streamlining. It will definitely deliver to the satisfaction of the public.