J Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu has inaugurated a new scheme to sell rice at a retail price of Rs. 20 per kilogram in the open market.

The scheme to offer rice in the open market at an affordable rate was a part of her government's Budget for 2013-14. The scheme is aimed at controlling the price of rice in the retail market in the state. The Chief Minister inaugurated the scheme at the Civil Supplies Corporation warehouse in Nandanam in the state capital, Chennai.

She handed over the rice to the some customers who had purchased the rice at controlled price. She said that the scheme would off-load one lakh metric tonnes of rice in the open market and rice will be sold at a subsidised rate of Rs. 20 per kg through Amudham, cooperatives societies-run shops and special shops set up only for the purpose of the scheme.

The scheme is aimed at reducing demand pressure and reduces the price of the commodity in the retail market in the southern state. peration Minister Sellur K Raju, Food Minister R Kamaraj, Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Secretary MP Nirmala and other government functionaries were present at the event to launch the scheme in Chennai.