Yesterday, it was Kerala Kaumudi that released the news that the Centre will start marketing rice at a relatively low price in all states under the name of Bharat Rice to contain the rising price of rice in the public market. Yesterday's headline prepared by Kovalam Satish Kumar also revealed that the first load of Bharat Rice, which is sold at Rs 29 per kg, arrived in Kerala the previous day. The central intervention is sure to garner huge popularity when the state's Civil Supplies Corporation is struggling to find enough cash to pay for the sky-high prices of the public market and the common man is shocked by the skyrocketing price of rice.

It is natural to complain that this central move just before the official notification for the general elections is for political purposes. Especially when the Left Front made the distribution of free food kits in the state which continued even after the Covid a big propaganda weapon. NDA had responded then by distributing free rice and chickpeas to priority card holders. The current Bharat Rice project should be considered as its next step. Not only rice, but chickpeas are also available at low prices in the central scheme.

The big attraction of this is that rice will be available at Rs 29 per kg not only to ration card holders. One won't need a ration card to buy it. The sale is done through central agencies such as NAFED and NCCF. Central government employees can also buy this rice and other items through Kendriya Bhandar outlets. The central directive to these agencies is to open two hundred outlets in Kerala immediately. No need to wait for the project until the outlets open. Mobile outlets (vehicles) will reach all districts with Bharat Rice packed in 5 kg and 10 kg packs. Its flag-off ceremony was held in Thrissur yesterday. Soon there will be an online trading facility.

Ponni rice, which is widely used in Tamil Nadu, has now reached various states through the Bharat Rice project. Keralites also use Ponni rice but Matta rice is more in demand. As important as making rice available to all at low prices without economic classification as in the ration system, it is also important to be able to supply the variety of rice that is most in demand in the state. Only then will it be fully beneficial to the people. It is learned that the agencies responsible for implementing the scheme have brought this matter to the notice of the Centre. It can be expected that this demand will be seriously considered as the aim is the acceptance of the project.

At the same time, instead of running a political campaign saying that behind the central plan is an ulterior motive before the elections, Supplyco, which is running out of money for effective market intervention, and the state government which does not allow sufficient financial assistance to the corporation, must take immediate intervention to contain the price increase in the public market. Don't forget that hunger is bigger than politics for the common man.