'No truth in news about plastic rice'

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader has appealed to the public not to panic over the plastic rice and eggs episode.

Briefing mediapersons here on Saturday, he said there is no truth in the allegations that plastic rice was being sold in fair price shops. “It is the Food Corporation of India which is supplying rice under the Anna Bhagya scheme. Let us not confuse people and create psychological fear among them. A few persons are trying to bring disrepute to the Anna Bhagya scheme,” he said.

“I wonder why anyone would come out with plastic egg or rice as manufacturing them is a costly affair. The health minister has already ordered a probe into the plastic eggs episode. If people get plastic rice from fair price shops, it should be brought to the notice of the department of food and civil supplies immediately,” he said.

Khader said the department had withdrawn the guidelines on making education qualification of SSLC mandatory for fair price shop owners along with not renewing fair price shop licences after the owner turns 65.