MYSORE: The Tamil Nadu Government’s Antyodaya Anna Yojana for the poor and free rations for all card holders in Tamil Nadu has turned out to be a blessing to people across the border in Karnataka. The rice provided as part of the freebies announced by the AIADMK in its election manifesto, is now sold for Rs 9 a kg by card holders. Agents, in turn, sell them at Rs 14 to Rs 18 a kg to roadside eateries and shops. They also claim there is a growing demand for this rice from restaurants since it is of good quality.The Tamil Nadu Government provides 35 kg rice to families below the poverty line and 20 kg to other card holders. Card holders, particularly well-to-do families in rural areas, have sold rice in exchange for other articles or to buy better quality rice. Even the poor, with surplus rice, sell it to agents who move around on mopeds or buses across the borders.Though card holders fear a crackdown by officials, they transport hundreds of kilos of rice to their relatives in Chamarajnagar, Kollegal and other places in Karnataka. Card holders, pleading anonymity, claim that agents buy the free rice, polish it and sell it in the open market in Sathyamagalam and Talawadi villages like Tiganare, Yaraganahalli, Byanapura, Belathur and Malaiahpura besides Asanur and Mettur.“What should I do with 35 kg of rice? My brother also gets 20 kg for his family of seven,” says a card holder. A BPL card holder says the poor have benefited from the freebie war between the DMK and AIADMK. He said they have shelved plans of installing drip irrigation systems since Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa has promised to provide it free of cost. The card holders are all praise for Amma and are anticipating the arrival of fans, mixies and grinders besides laptops for students studying above class XI.
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