Kerala - Thrissur   

Centre decimating PDS in Kerala: Divakaran

Staff Reporter

Government to take steps to check corruption in the civil supplies sector

TRADITIONAL START: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Animal Husbandry C. Divakaran inaugurating a workshop on `Formulation of Recommendations for the Control of Major Zoonotic Diseases in Kerala' at the Veterinary College, Mannuthy, near Thrissu r, on Tuesday. Photo: K.K. Najeeb

THRISSUR: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies C. Divakaran has lashed out at the Centre for "systematically decimating" the efficient public distribution system (PDS) in the State.

Addressing a press conference at Veterinary College, Mannuthy, near here, on Tuesday the Minister said that he and Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would take up the issue with the Centre during their ensuing visits to New Delhi. Mr. Achuthanandan will discuss the issue with the Central Ministers on his visit to the capital this week.

Mr. Divakaran said he has secured appointments with the Union Ministers for Agriculture and Petroleum on July 10 and 11 respectively for talks on the representations given by Kerala on the problems being faced by the PDS in the State.

FCI godowns closed down

The Minister said the Food Corporation of India (FCI) closed down nine of its godowns in the State. The Corporation was not keen on maintaining the remaining godowns and want them to be handed over to the private sector. The allocation of wheat for the State for distribution through the PDS network has been reduced. Efforts are on to reduce the quantity of kerosene allocation for the State. The Centre was taking such actions without discussing it with the State. Such undemocratic attempts of the Centre should be opposed, Mr. Divakaran said.

Corruption to be checked

The Minister said the new Government would take stern steps to check corruption in the civil supplies sector. Food Advisory Vigilance Committees would be set up in all the districts, with the participation of the people's representatives at different levels, to monitor the working of the PDS. Steps will be taken to make the consumer redressal forums effective.

Foreign items

The Minister added that the Government would sell foreign consumer goods through the Maveli stores. The goods would be imported by the Civil Supplies Corporation from the international market. The payments would be made through the State Trading Corporation (STC).

Strong market intervention programmes will be put in place to hold the price line of various essential items and ensure their quality, especially during festivals such as Onam. Supplyco would set up super-markets where all the items, including grocery, vegetables, fruits, milk and meat, would be available under one roof during the forthcoming Onam. Middlemen will be avoided in the purchase of items to be sold through the various outlets of the Civil Supplies Corporation. The items will be purchased from the production unit.

Self-finance College Bill

Mr. Divakaran denied the reports that the Communist Party of India (CPI) had opposed some of the provisions in the Self-finance College Bill, passed by the Kerala Assembly last week, at the meeting of the Left Democratic Front. He said that according to the legal experts, the criticisms raised by the pro-CPI All India Students Federation (AISF) could be addressed through appropriate Government Orders and there was no need for any amendment in the Bill. Education Minister M.A. Baby has agreed to hold discussions with the AISF leaders in this regard, Mr. Divakaran said.

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