Chennai: In yet another initiative by the state government to provide quality products at affordable prices for the poor, chief minister Jayalalithaa launched the market sales of Amma salt at the secretariat here on Wednesday.
Amma salt will be available in three varieties which include double fortified, low sodium and refined free flow iodised salt and has been priced significantly lower than its rival products in the respective segments.
While the double fortified Amma salt is priced at Rs 14 a kg, the same product sold by private producers cost costs Rs 21 in the open market. Similarly, refined free flow Amma salt costs Rs 10 per kg while the market price for a similar product is Rs 14. The low sodium salt produced by the state costs Rs 21 a kg which is less than market price by Rs 4, a state government release said.
While double fortified salt which contains iron and iodine benefits those suffering from anemia, low sodium salt helps those suffering from high blood pressure to keep their control their systolic and diastolic numbers in check.
Amma salt being produced by the Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation (TNSC) and will be available in all state government run retail outlets including Amudham and Kamadhenu supermarkets and all the TUCS PDS outlets in the state.
TNSC already produces iodised salt for the retail market which is available in stores as of now. “The three new varieties have now been introduced at subsidised prices for the benefit of the poor,” a state government official said.
In February 2013, the government had launched Amma Unavagams, a chain of cheap and quality food canteens that have been a big hit statewide. More recently, the state had introduced Amma bottled drinking water in an effort to supply good drinking water at Rs 10 per litre against the market price of Rs 14 per litre which has also been received well in the retail market.
