Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

3,000 Vishu markets to be opened: Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cooperative societies will set up 3,000 ‘Vishu Markets’ in the State from April 7 to 14 to offer foodgrains and vegetables at prices lower than those prevailing in the market, Minister for Cooperation G. Sudhakaran has said.

He was speaking after launching the total computerisation and networking system for the Consumerfed here on Friday.

The markets would stock 32 items; the first market will be set up under the cooperative society functioning in front of the house where writer Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai lived.

Even though the market price of rice has touched Rs.21 a kilo, Consumerfed has been able to hold the price of rice sold through the societies at Rs.16 a kilo. If the State and Centre start offering subsidies the price of the ‘Neethi gas’ can be slashed by 50 per cent. In the next three years the Consumerfed will offer a lot of benefits to the public.

It is a sign of the government’s commitment to reforming the cooperative sector that the non-performing assets of the Consumerfed have come down by Rs.1,000 crore on March 31. As on that date the total deposits mobilised by Consumerfed stood at Rs.38,000 crore, the minister said. “The Consumerfed is an institution where for every 10 rupees we get, we give services worth Rs.100,” he added.

The Minister also released the Vision 2011 report that details a Rs.175 crore plan for modernisation, expansion and diversification of Consumerfed. The Minister also gave away prizes won by consumers as part of the ‘Ente Onam Consumerfedinodoppam’ programme.

Consumerfed president V. Karunan Master and registrar Rani George were among those who were present.

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