NewDelhi: Kerala has requested the union government to allot more share of rice for meeting the requirements of the upcoming Onam season. After his meeting with union food minister Piyush Goyal, GR Anil, food and civil supplies minister, expressed hope that the union government would do the needful in order to help the Kerala government to distribute an additional 5 kgs of rice to all the ration card holders in the state during the festive season. 

The food minister also informed that Kerala would be receiving its ‘tide over share’ of wheat till March 2024. He also held a meeting with the National Cooperative Consumers Federation Of India Ltd deliberating the possibilities of distribution of low-cost pulses via Supplyco across the state during the festive season.   

Kerala also expressed its concern over ‘data security’ in connection with the introduction of smart PDS. In response, the union government assured to move ahead with the project only after fixing all the ‘glitches’. The government will also inspect the feasibility of utilising its employment guarantee and Mudra loans schemes, for expediting Kerala government’s proposed project of improving ration shops infrastructure for stocking more items.

The Kerala government also demanded financial assistance and incentives from the union government for integrating e-POS machines and e-weighing balances installed in the ration shops. The state government also demanded money to conduct more awareness programs among the migrant workers of Kerala regarding the ‘one nation, one ration’ scheme. Minister GR Anil also conducted a meeting with the NIC officials for fixing other technical glitches experienced in ration shops in the state.