Rice to be distributed at ₹25 through coops

Government bid to keep price of commodity in check

Tackling price rise: Rice will be supplied through 480 cooperative societies across the State.

Through a project, Sahakarana Arikkada, the State government is set to supply rice to the public at the rate of ₹25, in a bid to assuage the recent price spiral.

The initiative is being undertaken by a consortium of primary cooperative societies led by Consumerfed, formed recently with a ₹100-crore corpus. The distribution will be carried out through 480 cooperative societies across the State.

Procured from WB

The consortium has purchased 2,500 tonnes of Suvarna masoori rice or Suvarna, as it is commonly known in northern Kerala, from West Bengal for the purpose, Minister for Cooperation Kadakampally Surendran told the media here on Saturday.

The first batch of 800 tonnes will be distributed from March 6.

The remaining quantity is expected to reach the State by March 10. In the first week, each family will receive 5 kg, and 10 kg in the following weeks.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the project on March 6, in a ceremony to be organised by the Karakulam Service Cooperative Bank. Mr. Surendran will preside over the event.

The distribution will be conducted in 40 outlets each in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Kannur, Palakkad, Thrissur, and Kollam, 30 outlets in Malappuram, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, and Kasaragod, and 20 outlets in Wayanad.

The project would continue at least until Vishu , Mr. Surendran said.

The rice, the procurement and transport of which actually costs approximately ₹27 a kg, is being provided at a subsidised rate with the plight of the common man in mind, the Minister said, adding that the cooperative societies had agreed to bear this burden.

It was decided to make the purchase from West Bengal after the consortium made visits to dealers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal.

The Minister said the consortium had found that the recent rise in the price level was due to the operations of some rice agents centred on Kollam, who intended to exploit the customer.