The Central Government has approved a grant of 27.93 crore rupees to strengthen the ration distribution system in Uttarakhand under the National Food Security Act. This grant has been released to state agencies under the Transportation and Fair Price Shop Dealer Margin Support Scheme. The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has approved this amount for the year 2025–26. Of the total 27.93 crore rupees, the state will spend 4.48 crore rupees on food grain transportation, 21.68 crore rupees on Fair Price Shop dealers’ basic margin, and 1.77 crore rupees on dealers’ additional margin. This amount will be spent through the Food and Civil Supplies Department of the Uttarakhand government. The Central Government directed that the funds be used only for approved purposes and that the state government submit a complete accounting to the Ministry. Payments will be made only to registered transporters and Fair Price Shop dealers. Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister Rekha Arya stated that the state has received this amount. The department has been instructed to add the state’s share and make payment to ration vendors promptly. Minister Rekha Arya stated that during a meeting with representatives of the ration vendors’ association in the Assembly Hall a week ago, she had assured them that payment of the outstanding dividend would begin before Diwali. She added that the department is in constant contact with the central government to pay the remaining outstanding amount and rent.
