All eligible families in Kerala will be ensured ration cards: Minister G.R. Anil

Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil has said that the government’s objective is to ensure ration cards for all eligible families in the State. Strengthening the public distribution system (PDS) is essential to guarantee food security for every household in Kerala, he added.

He was inaugurating the State-level distribution of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards for 7,000 families here on Wednesday.

According to Mr. Anil, a total of 5,53,858 Priority Household (pink) cards and 58,487 AAY (yellow) cards have been distributed so far during the tenure of the present government. In all, 6,38,445 eligible families have been provided with priority ration cards.

Over the past five years, more than 11 lakh ration cards have either been newly issued or had their category changed. The Minister added that 1,72,000 people who were holding priority cards despite being ineligible had voluntarily surrendered them during the period.

Mr. Anil also said that applications received through the online services of the Civil Supplies department have been effectively processed. Of the total 1,05,00,000 applications received, 99.71%, amounting to 1,04,82,925 applications, have been resolved thus far.

From Jan. 15 to 30

The distribution of 40,000 newly identified pink cards will be soon launched. The applications for new ration cards can be submitted from January 15 to 30. The government aims to ensure that there will not be a single eligible person in Kerala without a ration card by the end of January, the Minister added.

V.K. Prasanth, MLA, presided over the function. Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.V. Rajesh and Civil Supplies Commissioner Hima K. were among those who were present.