Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (VP)

Mangaluru, Jul 11: Bharat rice, once considered a ray of hope for poor and needy people, has been unavailable throughout the district since the Lok Sabha elections, raising concerns that it may have been a political gimmick.

The Bharat rice initiative, launched by the Central BJP government to provide good and healthy food at affordable prices, has left people waiting for its return. Despite directives to purchase rice under the scheme without the need for Aadhar, BPL, or APL cards, simply through mobile registration, significant hurdles remain. Claims of availability through online platforms like Reliance, Flipkart, and BigBasket have not materialized, with stocks remaining scarce.

A resident commented, "Bharat rice and other products were available to the public at very low prices, but now it seems like a political gimmick for the Lok Sabha elections. This initiative had the potential to help and feed many people across the country, with 1 kg rice priced at Rs 29, but its unavailability is causing distrust among citizens."

Another resident expressed sadness over the delay, saying, "Bharat rice is not available in any outlets within the district. Currently, it is only available online at premium prices, making it unaffordable and inaccessible for poor people. The only solution is to distribute rice to nearby shops and ration shops where people from poor backgrounds can avail rice and other products at reasonable prices."

A shopkeeper added, "As far as I know, Bharat rice is available in only 2-3 shops, including ours. We were selling Bharat rice during the elections, but we have not received any stock since it ran out. Although some officials have said that the rice will reach us within a few days, it is currently unavailable anywhere in town, including online websites and apps."