Thiruvananthapuram, August 3: The Kerala government announced a significant achievement on Monday as part of its 100-day action program. The administration successfully distributed 73,024 new ‘Priority Ration Cards’ and 2,000 ‘Antyodaya Anna Yojana’ (AAY) cards within the stipulated timeframe.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob inaugurated the state-level program for distributing the new cards. He stated that this initiative has effectively cleared a substantial backlog of pending applications, ensuring eligible families receive their ration cards without delay.
Initially, the food department aimed to distribute 50,000 ‘Priority Ration Cards.’ However, due to the swift processing and verification of applications, the department exceeded its target, distributing over 73,000 cards—23,000 more than initially planned.
This initiative was launched following the Chief Minister‘s directive for all departments to implement welfare programs within the first 100 days of the new government’s term. Addressing long-pending ration card applications was identified as a priority task for the department.
Minister Jacob mentioned that new cardholders would begin receiving priority ration benefits starting this month. He also assured that all projects under the food department, including those related to Supplyco and Legal Metrology, would be completed within the 100-day timeframe.
Amidst the state’s economic challenges, the minister reassured the public that welfare schemes would remain unaffected. To strengthen the government’s Onam Market Intervention Program, ₹253 crore has been allocated to Supplyco for providing subsidized grains and essential goods to all categories of ration cardholders.
In the coming weeks, special fairs and market intervention outlets will be set up across Kerala in preparation for Onam. Cardholders will be allowed to collect their September ration quota in August, facilitating demand during the festival season.
During Onam, Supplyco’s Maveli stores will sell rice at ₹27 per kilogram. The minister also announced that new marketing strategies would be implemented to enhance the services provided by the Civil Supplies Corporation across the state.
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