To neutralise the impact of price rise on people, the State government has been providing commodities such as vegetables, rice and tamarind, essentially through marketing outlets of cooperative societies at concessional prices.
In September 2012, when the prices of rice went northward, 1,000 tonnes of rice from West Bengal were purchased and sold to people at Rs. 25 a kg and Rs. 31 a kg. All this was possible, courtesy - price stabilisation fund. Proposals for the procurement of essential commodities under the fund do not have to go through the conventional system of clearance as there is a committee of senior officials from different departments to scrutinise the proposals and clear them.
Amma canteens, launched in cities, are another attempt to provide the urban poor food at affordable prices. Besides, under the government's special public distribution system, “urad dhal,” “toor dhal” and edible oil are given to family card-holders, a scheme launched during the previous DMK government.