Tamil Nadu launches subsidised vegetable packs ahead of Deepavali
The Vetri Special Vegetable Pack scheme offers 10 essential items for Rs 100 to protect consumers from price fluctuations.
The Tamil Nadu government launched the 'Vetri Special Vegetable Pack' scheme on Thursday to provide essential kitchen vegetables at a subsidised rate of Rs 100. According to the Hindustan Times, Minister for Cooperation V Ganthiraj inaugurated the initiative at the Poonga Nagar Cooperative Wholesale Store in Chennai.
The three-day sale, running from November 5 to 7, is available through 218 selected cooperative retail outlets across the state. In Chennai, four mobile vending vehicles have been deployed to reach different neighbourhoods.
Each eco-friendly pack weighs between 2.55 kg and 2.60 kg and includes onions, tomatoes, brinjal, potatoes, carrots, beans, green chillies, lemons, ginger, and one coconut. The government is procuring these vegetables directly from farmers to remove middlemen and ensure better returns for growers.
Minister Ganthiraj clarified that these kits are not part of the Public Distribution System and are not sold through ration shops. Instead, they are being distributed through specific supermarkets and cooperative outlets.
To prevent hoarding and ensure more households benefit, authorities have limited the purchase to one pack per person. The Cooperation Department stated that sufficient stocks are maintained, and officials have been instructed to monitor the supply chain closely.