New Delhi (PTI): The Centre is likely to kick-start distribution of subsidised cooking oils through ration shops from July 17 at a function in Andhra Pradesh.

Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar is likely to launch the scheme from Andhra Pradesh, for which the Centre has already supplied the require quantity of edible oils to the state, a senior government official said.

The state-owned trading agencies -- PEC, STC and MMTC-- and cooperative major NAFED, which have been entrusted with the task to import one million tons of edible oils for this scheme, have already contracted nearly 1.98 lakh tons of edible oil and out of that one lakh tons has already been shipped.

Under the scheme, the Centre would supply imported edible oils such as palm oil and soya oil at Rs 15 per kg less than the imported cost to each BPL and AAY family. Every family will receive one kg oil per month through ration shop.

Though, the quantity is very less, the Centre wants to provide this to the needy people as edible oil prices in the country have flared up substantially in past one year, the official said.

The Food Ministry has also earmarked Rs 50 lakh budget to publicise the scheme through both print and electronic media at the time of launch.

The Centre has also extended the scheme till December, which was to expire in June due to the delay in the launch. The subsidised edible oils scheme was announced by Pawar in Parliament in April.

In a statement issued on June 20, the Centre had said that 15 states have agreed to participate in the scheme.