Udhayanidhi alleges free ration rice being polished and sold at ₹30 per kg across T.N.

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government of polishing rice meant to be distributed free of cost under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and selling it as Grade A fine-variety rice at ₹30 per kg.

Mr. Udhayanidhi was referring to the rice being sold at ₹30 per kg by the State government through 260 cooperative and Amudham Departmental Stores across the State as a measure to control the inflation of food prices.

“People across Tamil Nadu allege that when they go to ration shops, the rice normally distributed free of cost is being polished and sold as ‘fine-grade Ponni rice’. People have also been returning the rice in several places,” Mr. Udhayanidhi said in a post on X, referring to an incident in Cumbum in Theni district.

“Although Tamil Nadu has 2.28 crore ration cards, there have been complaints that polished rice is being distributed as ‘fine-grade Ponni rice’ at just 250 locations, with only 5 kg being provided to each family,” he said.

When prices of essential commodities rose in 2007, the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced the Special Public Distribution Scheme, under which essential commodities, including palm oil, tur dal, and urad dal, were procured through a transparent tender process and distributed to the public at subsidised prices, the Leader of the Opposition said, questioning the government on the tender process followed to procure the rice and the subsidy borne by the government.