Port Blair, Feb 19: CPI (M) has demanded to resume supply of fortified Atta through Fair Price Shops in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. In a letter sent to the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee said that the people of these islands have been getting fortified Atta in lieu of wheat through Fair Price Shops till one year ago. The Administration used to allot wheat to the flour mill operators who prepared the Atta by reportedly adding micronutrients in order to improve the nutritional quality. The flour mill operators then supplied the equal quantity of Atta to the Civil Supplies Department in a pre-packaged manner for sale through FPS shops across the union territory at Rs. 25 per kilogram. Ayyappan informed the Chief Secretary that all of a sudden, the supply of fortified Atta was stopped and in its place wheat was supplied to the consumers from FPS.  

CPI (M) Secretary told the Chief Secretary that the supply of Atta through FPS was a great relief to the people who were not required to clean the wheat and then get it prepared from the flour mills.  He stated in the letter that a large number of people stopped purchasing wheat due to the efforts required to prepare the Atta. 

Ayyappan brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary that   immediately after the stoppage of the supply of fortified Atta through FPS, the price of the wheat flour in the open market including that of the branded companies from the mainland was increased. CPI (M) told the Chief Secretary that while the central government is undertaking the propaganda of ensuring food security for the poor people, the people of these islands are denied of the benefit of fortified Atta which they were getting earlier. Ayyappan requested the Chief Secretary to direct the Civil Supplies Department to resume supply of fortified Atta instead of wheat through Fair Price Shops in the islands which will be of immense relief to the people especially the poor sections of the society.