Health Minister Dr V S Vijay on Saturday inaugurated sale of low cost rice through cooperative outlets at the Karpagam Super market here.
The scheme, introduced by the state government, was aimed at benefitting middle class families by enabling them to purchase quality rice at subsidised rates to protect them from the escalating costs of the open markets.
The rice purchased from West Bengal Essential Commodities Supply Corporation (WBECSC) is marketed by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation.
In Vellore, IR 36 and IR 50 varieties of rice (both boiled and raw) would be sold for a price of `25 a kilogram while minikit rice (fine quality) would be available for `31 through 16 cooperative supermarkets and mini-super markets in Vellore, Tirupattur, Pernambut, Ranipet, Arakonam, Wallajah, Katpadi, Gudiyattam towns.
People could purchase the rice without ration cards and there was no tab on the quantity.
The cooperative department would provide quality rice based on demand. “Please make use of the scheme,” the minister said.
The special officer of the Karpagam Super Market, J Malarvizhi, said that the cooperative outlets in the district had a stock of eight tons of fine quality rice and four tons of IR 36 and IR 50 varieties rice.
While the cost of similar varieties of rice in the open market was in the range of `890 per 25 kg pack, under the new scheme, the same would be available for `625 and `775 per 25 kg pack respectively, she added.
One kilogram-packs were also available as part of the sales promotional initiatives.
The quality tests done at the Cooperative lab here also confirmed the quality of the non-levy rice being marketed under the new scheme.
The cooperative outlets expect to sell around 50 tons of this rice per month, Malarvizhi added.
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