Puducherry has asked the Centre for rice allocation for the next one year instead of cash disbursement to beneficiaries under the food security plan. CM asked the Centre for rice allocation for one year as peoples have been facing drought conditions. Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, the government sells wheat at 2 rupees per kg, rice at 3 rupees, and coarse cereals at 1 rupee to around 813 mln beneficiaries. Puducherry chief minister also asked for higher prices of rice under the Direct Benefit Transfer to which the food minister said an increase in the MSP, effective Oct 1, will automatically take the benefits higher for the Union Territory.