The initiative opened at the Kamadhenu Cooperative Supermarket in Chennai’s Raja Annamalipuram neighborhood, led by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Venkataramanan and Cooperation Minister Kandiraj.
Subsidized Fine Rice Rollout Across 250 Outlets
The initial phase draws upon 25,000 metric tonnes of procured fine rice distributed through 201 cooperative stores and 49 Amudham outlets across the state with a purchase limit of up to 5 kilograms per household depending on need. Officials expanded the rollout to regional centers including Egmore, where School Education, Tamil Development and Information Minister Rajmohan inaugurated sales at the Ribbon Building Cooperative Store alongside six essential grocery items offered below market rates.
Minister Seeks Surplus Grain to Stabilize Retail Costs
Private retail costs for staple varieties had surged over preceding months due to reduced grain imports from neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Minister Venkataramanan noted that officials are actively inspecting surplus regions to stabilize supply with a total projected requirement of one lakh metric tonnes for distribution.
| Essential Commodity | Subsidized Price |
|---|---|
| Ponni Boiled Rice | Rs. 60 / kg |
| Raw Rice | Rs. 30 / kg |
| Toor Dal | Rs. 130 / kg |
District Collectors Defend Grain Quality Against Public Objections
Despite the official rollout, distribution encountered friction in several districts. In Ariyalur and Salem, residents and local shoppers voiced sharp objections at launch events, questioning whether public distribution rations were being polished and resold as fine varieties. Confronted by angry crowds demanding transparency over procurement sources, district collectors including Mrinalini in Ariyalur and Ilampagavathi in Salem issued public clarifications defending the grain’s quality against what officials termed erroneous media reports.
Salem residents asked the district collector, Act with a conscience. You are selling ration rice for 30 rupees… doesn't your conscience prick you? Why are you cheating by selling free rice for 30 rupees?
according to Nakkheeran.
Cooperation department figures released on October 22 indicated that out of 439 tonnes dispatched across 184 retail outlets statewide, only 16 tonnes had been sold, with local observers attributing the slow uptake to a lack of public awareness regarding sales locations.