Smuggled, polished, relabeled: Tamil Nadu’s ration rice smuggled to Kerala, sold as Ponni

CHENNAI: The practice of transporting rice distributed free to poor families in Tamil Nadu to Kerala, polishing it to resemble branded Ponni rice and selling it is spreading. The governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala have tightened inspections along the border to curb the racket.

Kerala’s Civil Supplies Vigilance Department has launched an investigation into the smuggling of rice from Tamil Nadu. With Tamil Nadu’s Civil Supplies Intelligence Wing and police also joining the crackdown, some of those involved in the smuggling have been caught.

The Tamil Nadu government uncovered a racket in which ration rice from the state was transported to mills in Kerala, polished to resemble Ponni rice and then sold in Tamil Nadu itself. It informed the Kerala government about the practice. Kerala Kaumudi reported the issue on October 13.

Around 59 lakh ration cardholders in Tamil Nadu receive free rice under schemes run by the Central and state governments. Of the 1,18,000 tonnes of rice allocated to them every month, nearly half reportedly enters the black market. However, the quantity smuggled into Kerala remains unclear.

Inspections have been intensified in the border districts of Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, Theni and Coimbatore.

Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin has alleged that the Tamil Nadu government polishes free ration rice and sells it as Ponni rice for Rs 30. His criticism concerns a scheme under which rice is sold through 260 cooperative and Amudham stores across the state.

Tamil Nadu’s enforcement measures

• Arakkonam railway station: One tonne of rice being transported by train was seized.
• Walayar border: A total of 20.6 tonnes of rice was seized.
• Kancheepuram: Two officials were suspended over an alleged scam involving 6,000 tonnes of rice in association with private mills.