<p>The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced an advance Diwali gift of subsidised food provisions to nearly 1.70 crore (around 7 crore persons) families covered under the public distribution system.</p>.<p>Accordingly, each ration card-holder will be entitled to one kg sugar, one kg palm oil, chana dal and rava at Rs 100 only, giving a major relief to the masses reeling under inflation, in the festival season.</p>.<p>The bonanza comes a day ahead of the 'two Shiv Sena Dassehra rallies' -- one to be addressed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and another by Sena President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray, with both going all-out to woo the crowds at their venues in Bandra Kurla Complex and Shivaji Park, respectively, scheduled on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Announcing the cabinet's decisions, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that these food commodities shall be available for a month vide an e-pass system and will entail a burden of around Rs 489 crore on the state exchequer.</p>.<p>He also urged the Food & Civil Supplies Minister Ravindra Chavan -- belonging to the ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party -- to ensure that all these commodities are distributed to the targeted population without hassles before Diwali, starting from October 24.</p>
<p>The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced an advance Diwali gift of subsidised food provisions to nearly 1.70 crore (around 7 crore persons) families covered under the public distribution system.</p>.<p>Accordingly, each ration card-holder will be entitled to one kg sugar, one kg palm oil, chana dal and rava at Rs 100 only, giving a major relief to the masses reeling under inflation, in the festival season.</p>.<p>The bonanza comes a day ahead of the 'two Shiv Sena Dassehra rallies' -- one to be addressed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and another by Sena President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray, with both going all-out to woo the crowds at their venues in Bandra Kurla Complex and Shivaji Park, respectively, scheduled on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Announcing the cabinet's decisions, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that these food commodities shall be available for a month vide an e-pass system and will entail a burden of around Rs 489 crore on the state exchequer.</p>.<p>He also urged the Food & Civil Supplies Minister Ravindra Chavan -- belonging to the ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party -- to ensure that all these commodities are distributed to the targeted population without hassles before Diwali, starting from October 24.</p>