Chandranna Sankranti gifts of Rs. 47 cr going waste

AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's Sankranti gift packs of Rs.275 each, all worth Rs. 47 crore, are in danger of going waste unless an administrative decision is taken fast to distribute the remaining gifts. As part of the festival celebrations, gift packs containing jaggery, turdal, wheat flour, ghee, palm oil and bengalgram, all worth Rs.275 each, have been packed up for distribution. In all the gifts were packed for supplying to 14 million ration card holders in the State. All the Chandranna gift packs were not distributed because the officials concerned and ration shop dealers themselves were enjoying the festivities. In all, 1.7 million gift packs remain to be distributed. If delayed, the gift packs would go waste. So, it was decided to sell the gift packs. But then the question arose that if those already given were for free, why should the balance packs be sold. In any case, the officials are awaiting a word from the top to take a decision in the matter. Meanwhile, the gift packs run the risk of going waste.