People to get more rice at reduced rates during Onam; Government issues directions

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: To tackle rising rice prices during the upcoming Onam season, the Kerala government will make rice available at affordable rates, announced Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil during a press meet in Thiruvananthapuram.

The minister stated that he met Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Prahlad Joshi in Delhi on July 1 and requested the Centre to allow 5 kg of rice at Rs 8.30 per kg for families not under the priority category. This is the current rate under the Tide Over quota. He also urged the restoration of the Tide Over wheat quota, which was stopped in 2022. Rajya Sabha MP P. Santhosh Kumar was part of the meeting. However, both requests were turned down by the Centre.

Minister Anil said the wheat quota was requested again, considering the high rate of diabetes in Kerala, affecting over 40% of the population. He also criticised the Centre for charging the state for earlier emergency rice distributions: Rs 8.31 crore for 3,555 metric tonnes during the 2018 Ockhi disaster, Rs 205.80 crore for 89,540 metric tonnes given during the floods, and Rs 649 crore for rice provided at subsidised rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, Supplyco sells raw rice at Rs 29 per kg and K-Rice at Rs 33 per kg. The state government plans to reduce prices further during Onam and has already directed officials to begin the necessary preparations, the minister added.