Rice for free scheme will be procured from local millers only'

: The Puducherry government would procure rice needed for the free rice scheme only from local millers, Welfare and Cooperation Minister M Kandasamy said here today.
He said that the government would ensure that 20 kg rice was available free of cost through ration shops to all families covered under the Public Distribution System.
"We will supply single boiled rice as this is the unanimous choice of all the families here.The 20 kg rice will be available every month from August", he said.
While 2.5 lakh families would be given the rice in Puducherry region, 57,000 families would benefit in Karaikal and 8000 and 16,000 in Mahe and Yanam regions respectively.

He said the V Narayanasamy government had come out with the first announcement after assuming charge on June 6 that each family would be given 20 kg rice free of cost every month and this promise was being implemented in letter and spirit.
The Rice was being procured by the government owned Civil Supplies Corporation (PAPSCO) here.
He said the rice would be purchased from local mills as that would encourage local farmers and also millers, instead of outsourcing it from outside Puducherry.
Kandasamy said government would also encourage women's organisations to cultivate vegetables and promote horticulture and would procure the produce so that rural women's economic empowerment would be expeditiously encouraged.