Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies of Kerala, GR Anil, criticized the Bharat Rice initiative introduced by the Center as a handout for the common man amid rising prices. The minister’s finding is that Bharat Rice is nothing but the rice you get in ration shops, specifically referring to the white boiled rice variant. GR Anil explained that the rice supplied through ration shops, priced at Rs 4 for blue card holders and Rs 10.90 for white card holders, is identical to the Bharat Rice being distributed by the central government. The minister also claimed that the Center is providing the same rice at Rs 29, which is distributed through SupplyCo at Rs 24.
While Bharat Rice has begun to be sold in Kerala, K-Rice, the rice brand proposed by the Kerala government years ago, has failed to gain traction. The initial plan was to establish the Kerala Rice Limited Company and create rice technology parks at Kanjikode in Palakkad district and Chengannur in Alappuzha district to introduce Kerala’s own rice brand. However, the reality is that even the contract for the plant has not been finalized yet.
The food minister is stirring up controversy over Bharat Rice without realizing that it is actually Ponni rice sold under the ‘Bharat’ brand. At a time when people are burdened with supply shortages in Supplyco, the Center introduced high-quality rice at a low price. The Kerala government had anticipated that Bharat Rice would be distributed through ration shops or Supplyco, but this did not happen, resulting in the government missing out on potential commissions. This has probably angered the Kerala government and the department and hence, the remarks by Minister GR Anil.
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