Hunger-free Kerala

“We have been successfully able to make ‘hunger-free Kerala’ a reality. Even during the times of disaster – including the Covid 19 pandemic, floods and landslides, we were able to support everyone without letting anyone go hungry.”

-G. R. Anil
Minister for Food and Civil Supplies

Kerala’s journey of transformation is not only marked by infrastructure and economic progress but also by its unwavering commitment to social welfare. In an astounding achievement, the state has successfully realised the vision of a Hunger-Free Kerala. The Food and Civil Supplies department ensured that no one was left behind with a systematic public distribution system. By safeguarding access to essential provisions, Kerala demonstrated that development is meaningful only when it uplifts and protects every citizen.

K Store

An initiative to modernise and fortify the Public Distribution System in the state, currently there are 2181 K Stores in the state. The goal is to transform all conventional ration shops in the state to K Stores in a phased manner.

K Store offers:

• Mini ATM facility that enables small banking transactions of up to Rs 10,000.

• Utility Payment – Power, water bills etc. can be paid.

• Cooking Gas – supply of Chhotu Gas

• Supply of products of public sector organisations like SupplyCo and Milma

• Market opportunities for small scale entrepreneurs, offering scope for additional income for ration dealers

Prioritising the Under-Privileged

A door delivery system for the benefit of bed-ridden patients and others, who are unable to reach the ration shop. The scheme is active in all 14 districts and is implemented with the help of auto rickshaw drivers. A scheme meant for tribal families in remote forest regions. Currently, ration is being distributed from 64 ration shops in 146 tribal villages spread across 21 taluks in 11 districts. To tackle malnutrition, fortified rice kernels – enriched with iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 – are mixed with regular rice in 1:100 ratio and supplied. The fortified rice was introduced first in Wayanad district in August 2022. By June 2023, fortified rice was made available in all ration stores in the state. Since 2021 itself, the government has been providing fortified rice to schools and anganawadis in the state. In Kerala, only 1,54,80,040 people were eligible for priority cards, resulting in the exclusion of many poor and vulnerable people.

The Government of Kerala presented an opportunity to those holding the priority cards to voluntarily surrender them so that they could be transferred to more deserving individuals. An intense revision drive called Operation Yellow was conducted to detect and seize priority cards held by undeserving individuals. A total of 6,03,845 cards were distributed among deserving families. A total of 5,24,986 new ration cards were issued. The cards were issued solely based on aadhaar cards, benefitting even transgender individuals, destitutes and tenants, whose landlords refused to provide rent agreements or receipts. Additionally, 8,232 cards were distributed to welfare institutions, including care homes for differently abled children. All those who were identified as ‘extremely poor’ by the local self government department as part of the poverty alleviation efforts of this government also received the priority ration cards. There are 47 Subhiksha hotels, providing lunch at the rate of Rs 30, operational in the state. It is estimated that over 3.5 lakh people benefit from these hotels every month. The Civil Supplies Department has been providing 600 kg rice to Subhiksha Hotels as well as the Janakeeya Hotels run by the local self government department at a rate of Rs. 10.90. Hilly Aqua, Kerala government’s branded bottled water, is sold through ration shops, K – Stores and SupplyCo outlets at a rate of just Rs 10 per litre.

Modernisation

Steps are underway to find suitable land in all 83 ration taluks to set up scientific godowns adhering to prescribed standards and norms. The government provides ration card holders an opportunity to correct errors in names, addresses and other details, in their cards.

Consumer Affairs

• Implemented e-Jagrithi system to enable online case filing

• Orders of Kerala Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission that are of significant interest to the public are now published on social media

• Mediation cells established in all commissions

• Adalats are conducted in a frequent manner for speedy disposal of cases

• Legal aid centres set up at all district commissions to provide free legal assistance to those facing financial difficulties

• Instituted Consumer Awards to consumer clubs and voluntary organisations to recognise their contribution in the field of protection of consumer rights

• Launched Darpanam – a mobile exhibition initiative designed to increase consumer awareness among school students

• The website, www.direct.selling.kerala.gov. in was revamped and made operational to regulate direct selling companies. A monitoring system and a set of guidelines were also established to oversee the activities of direct selling companies.

Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation

SupplyCo, which ensures essential commodities at fair price for every family in Kerala, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. SupplyCo’s role in combating hunger during times of great calamities and providing essential goods without price hike is a rare feat in the country.

Market Intervention

• As part of Government’s efforts to curb price hikes by market intervention, as many as 13 items of essential commodities are supplied through SupplyCo outlets at subsidised rates

• These items were provided without any price hike from May 2016 to February 2024. Subsequently, the state government continued to provide these goods at a 20 % – 30 % discount compared to the open market

• On an average, over 40 lakh ration card holders purchase subsidised goods from SupplyCo outlets every month

• 34 new SupplyCo outlets were opened, and 60 outlets were upgraded. Currently, 1630 SupplyCo outlets are operational in the state

• Special trade fairs were conducted during festival seasons, including Onam, Ramadan, Vishu and Christmas to counter unreasonable price rise in the open market

• When the rice prices escalated in the open market SupplyCo introduced Arivandi (rice vans) that travelled across the state, ensuring availability of rice at fair price for all.

• School fairs were launched at select SupplyCo outlets offering 30% to 50% discount for School supplies and stationery

• Stringent measures were taken this Onam to curb the price rise of rice and coconut oil. When the price of coconut oil soared above Rs 500 in the open market, SupplyCo’s own brand, Sabari Coconut Oil, was made available at a subsidised rate of Rs 339 and nonsubsidised rate of Rs 389, while the Kera brand was provided at Rs 419. In addition to the existing ration of Jaya, Matta and Kuruva varieties of rice at Rs 33 per kilogram under Sabari K Rice brand to ration cardholders, 20 kg of rice per card was also made available at a subsidised rate of Rs 25 for each card.

• SupplyCo operates 88 medical stores that provide medicines at fair prices, offering discounts up to 35%

• SupplyCo will soon be launching ‘Signature Marts’ that will provide a plush shopping experience comparable to corporate retail chains

• Implemented SupplyCo Vehicle Tracking and Fleet Management System to ensure transparency of door delivery of ration goods.

Paddy Procurement

• In addition to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) provided by the central government, the Government of Kerala also provides an additional incentive bonus to the farmers to encourage paddy cultivation. Combined, the paddy procurement price in Kerala stands at Rs 30, which is the highest in the country. Over the past four years, the Government of Kerala has distributed Rs 2187.1 crore as incentive bonus to farmers.

Legal Metrology

• Special adalats were organised to facilitate the reverification and stamping of weights, measures and weighing instruments that had defaulted the periodic verification.

• An enforcement drive to detect the unlawful practices and violations in commercial establishments was launched following which a total of Rs 1,24,70,000 was collected as fine.

• Surprise inspections were conducted at fuel stations following which a total of Rs 1,66,500 was collected as fine