Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 3 (IANS) The Kerala government on Monday claimed to have achieved one of the biggest milestones under its 100 day action programme by completing the distribution of 73,024 new Priority Ration Cards and 2,000 Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cards within the promised timeframe.
The V.D.Satheesan government was sworn in on May 18.
Launching the state-level distribution of the new cards here, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob said the exercise had cleared a large backlog of pending applications and ensured that eligible families received their ration cards without further delay.
According to the minister, the Food Department had originally targeted the distribution of 50,000 Priority Ration Cards.
Faster scrutiny and processing of applications, however, enabled the department to raise the figure to 73,024, surpassing its original goal by more than 23,000 cards.
The minister said the initiative followed the Chief Minister’s directive to all departments to roll out people-centric welfare programmes within the first 100 days of the new government’s tenure.
Clearing the long-pending ration card applications was identified as one of the department’s priority tasks.
The newly issued card holders will begin receiving priority ration benefits from this month itself, he said, adding that all other projects undertaken by the Food Department, including those of Supplyco and the Legal Metrology Department, would also be completed within the 100-day deadline.
Seeking to reassure the public amid the state’s financial challenges, the minister said welfare schemes would not be affected.
To strengthen the government’s Onam market intervention programme, Rs 253 crore has been sanctioned for Supplyco to supply subsidised foodgrains and essential commodities to ration card holders across all categories.
Special Onam fairs and market intervention outlets will function across Kerala in the coming weeks.
Card holders will also be permitted to lift their September ration quota during August, easing festival demand.
Supplyco’s Maveli Stores will sell rice at Rs 27 per kg during the Onam season.
The minister also announced that new marketing strategies would be introduced to strengthen the Civil Supplies Corporation and improve consumer services across the state.
–IANS
sg/vd
