Kumbakonam: Agriculture Minister Vinod launched the scheme to sell fine variety rice at Rs. 30 per kg.
The launch ceremony for the scheme to sell fine variety rice at Rs. 30 per kg was held at the self-service section of the Kumbakonam Chandrasekarapuram Cooperative Wholesale Store. Agriculture Minister Vinod, who participated in the event, launched the scheme.
Later, speaking to reporters, Minister Vinoth said, “This scheme has been launched at 14 locations across Thanjavur district, and 20,000 kilograms of fine rice have been distributed to beneficiaries. Through the Food Department, we are taking steps to sell grocery items at low prices in cooperative stores. Rice bags have not been smuggled abroad. If such smuggling is found, action will be taken.
We are taking precautionary measures on behalf of the district administration by repairing irrigation and drainage canals and water bodies in preparation for the northeast monsoon. Water will be released based on the amount of water available in the Mettur dam. A target of 8 lakh acres has been set for samba cultivation.
Due to reasons such as El Niño and delayed water arrival, some farmers have carried out cultivation late. In the coming periods, measures will be taken for that,” said Minister Vinod.
When reporters asked about allegations and actions against TVK administrators, he said, “Those who commit mistakes will be punished; the law will do its duty.”

District Collector Revathi, Regional Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies Dayal Vinayak Amalraj, Joint Registrar and Managing Director of Kumbakonam Central Cooperative Bank Muthukumar, and General Manager Gopinath of the Kumbakonam Chandrasekarapuram Cooperative Wholesale Store, among others, participated in the event.
Earlier, the District Collector Revathi inspected the rice. At that time, officials who realized that the rice bags being distributed to beneficiaries did not have the Chief Minister’s picture immediately bought 10 small pictures of Chief Minister Vijay and pasted them on the rice bags. At that time, two women sales staff from the same ration shop came there as beneficiaries.
After learning this, other officials brought women from nearby shops and made them buy rice. Then they took back the rice bags from them and sent them out empty-handed. Later, the ration shop employees safely carried the rice away, placed it inside a room, and locked it.
