With less migrants and locals opting for PDS, affordable rice has no takers

The government providing a total of Rs 40 per kilo rice (20 kg each from the state and central pools) per card per month through the Public Distribution System (PDS) has come as a boon for many who are presently strapped for cash due to lack of work. As the quality of such rice has also improved considerably many have lost their initial reluctance in using such rice.

The government directly procures rice for the PDS from farmers through its Direct Purchase Centres (DPCs) hulls them at its MRM (Modern Rice Mills) and moves them to fair price shops from the TN Civil Supplies godowns where they are stocked.

However, movement of paddy and rice to Chennai is without hassles now but trade is still sluggish. The main reason for this is that many upcountry workers who left for their native states due to the lockdown are yet to return. Association secretary CN Arun said, “they would usually opt for the O-45 and CO51 varieties which are cheaper costing around Rs 24 to Rs 26 a kilo.”

All paddy mills in and around Arani have enough stocks of this rice, but there is not much movement. “Only when North Indian workers return will we see the movement of this rice,” he added.

Asked what would happen if there was no movement Arun said “We will have to reduce prices further by another Rs 2 per kilo.

Though the rice had a shelf life of three months, “it would have to be cleaned and processed again if it continued to remain on the shelf and this will mean additional expenditure for sellers.”