Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Chief Minister to lead delegation to Centre

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran on Sunday protested against the Central Government's decision to cut the State's quota of wheat and the move to increase the prices of ration articles.

In an official release, the Minister said that Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan would lead a delegation to the Centre to represent the issue before the Prime Minister and the Union Minister for Food. The cooperation of the Members of the Parliament from the State would be sought to press for the State's demand for an increase in quota.

Mr. Divakaran said the Government was taking steps to improve the public distribution system and make it free of corruption. The cut in quota and moves to eliminate subsidies would hinder the welfare measures of the State Government.

The Centre, he noted, reduced the monthly allocation of wheat to the State from 37,325 tonnes to 11,777 tonnes from June 2006.

It also informed the State that the cut would be effective until 2007. The wheat intended for those living below the poverty line was cut from 8,865 tonnes to 7,336 tonnes a month. This brought about a crisis in the public distribution system. The reduction of quota will also lead to shortage and increase in prices in the open market.

He said that an increase in quota was actually required because of the natural calamities in the State. The situation was such that the State had to give free rations to people suffering hardship on account of the heavy monsoon.

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