Cooperative supermarkets in Chennai and surrounding areas have begun selling packets containing 10 essential commodities for ₹200, in a price-control measure launched by Cooperation Minister V. Gandhiraj at a supermarket in Red Hills on Friday.
The packet contains 250 grams of chana dal, 250 grams of moong dal, 100 grams of red chillies, 150 grams of dhaniya, 150 grams of garlic, 250 grams of tamarind, 100 grams of mustard, 100 grams of split urad dal, 50 grams of jeera and 50 grams of saunf.
The initiative places cooperative retail outlets at the centre of the State’s effort to make commonly used kitchen ingredients available at a fixed price. The announcement is relevant to urban households because supermarkets run by cooperatives provide a state-supported retail channel alongside private grocery stores and other markets.
Speaking at the launch, Gandhiraj said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had instructed Ministers and officials to ensure that price-control measures were taken. The minister’s statement linked the ₹200 packet to the government’s broader response to the cost of essential food items, although the report did not specify how the selling price was calculated or how long the measure would remain in place.
The commodities have been packed in fixed quantities, allowing consumers to purchase a combined set of pulses, spices and other ingredients rather than buying each item separately. The total quantity varies by commodity, with pulses packed in 250-gram portions and smaller quantities provided for higher-value spices such as jeera and saunf.
The launch took place at a cooperative supermarket in Red Hills. The report said the packets would be sold at supermarkets run by various cooperatives, but did not provide the total number of participating outlets, the duration of the programme, the daily stock available or details of any purchase limit for customers.
Food Secretary Amudha and Tiruvallur Collector S. Kavitha were also present at the event. Their presence indicates coordination between the cooperation and district administration systems, although the source did not set out the respective responsibilities of the department, supermarkets or district authorities in implementing the sale.
For consumers, the practical impact will depend on the availability of the packets at individual outlets and whether supplies are replenished consistently. The report did not include information on expected demand, distribution schedules, or whether the initiative would be extended to other cooperative retail formats.
The sale has now been launched at cooperative supermarkets, with the ₹200 packet serving as the immediate price-control offering announced by the Cooperation Department. Further details on outlet coverage, supply arrangements and the duration of the programme were not provided in the report.
