State seeks additional rice for Onam
Mr. Anil urged the Union government to increase the allotment of rice for Kerala during the Onam season. He pointed out that since the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Kerala's universal statutory ration system that existed since 1965 has become limited to certain sections.
Currently, only priority groups, i.e., the holders of yellow and pink ration cards, are eligible for NFSA benefits, leaving nearly 57% of Kerala's population outside the ration coverage. The limited quantity available under the 'tide-over' category is used by the State to support non-priority households.
The Minister stated that for a consumer State like Kerala, food grain availability is not merely a financial issue, but also a matter of social equity, especially during festivals like Onam when market prices tend to soar. He requested an additional 5 kg of rice per person for non-priority families for the festival season.
He also sought the restoration of the State's wheat allotment under the tide-over category, which had been discontinued.
Mr. Anil also raised concerns about the deadline for upgrading electronic point of sale (e-PoS) machines from LO to L1 standard devices. He requested an extension of the deadline to September 30.
The Minister also met Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri to discuss the State's kerosene allocation. He requested an extension of the deadline to lift the allotted stock to September 30, citing monsoon-related logistical challenges and technical delays.
The Union Ministers have conveyed that while additional allocations of rice and wheat could not be considered at present, the requests related to the e-PoS upgrade and kerosene lifting deadline extension would be sympathetically considered, according to the office of the Food and Civil Supplies Minister.
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