The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Promise on APL ration quota

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Friday, Jun 12, 2009
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Promise on APL ration quota

Special Correspondent

VS and Thomas hold discussions

Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Civil Supplies K.V. Thomas held discussions with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on issues affecting the State, particularly focussed on the Kuttanad-Idukki package and Kerala’s ration quota.

At a joint press conference with the Chief Minister after the meeting, Prof. Thomas said that steps would be taken to restore the ration quota for APL category at the earliest. The Union Civil Supplies Department had taken a decision on this, but it required the clearance of the Cabinet Sub-committee which was yet to be constituted. The Centre would soon come forward with legislation on food security, but the problems related to ration for APL category would have to be tackled, he said.

Packages

The Chief Minister pointed out that the State had not received any funds under the Kuttanad and Idukki packages. He said he had urged the Union Minister to take steps to restore Kerala’s ration quota. “We expect the ration allocation to be resolved in three to six months, but Prof. Thomas has promised to settle it within 15 days,” he said.

Prof. Thomas, referring to the Kuttanad package, said that his Ministry had held a preliminary round of discussion. He had also spoken to M.S. Swaminathan, agriculture scientist, who had evolved the Kuttanad proposals. Further discussions would be held as soon as he returns from abroad. The main point of difference was related to the unsuitability of the norms. This would be discussed at the ministry level and later with the Chief Minister, Prof. Thomas said. The FCI warehouses had adequate stock of quality foodgrains and shortcomings in quality would be addressed.

Prof. Thomas said the Central committee on Coastal Regulation Zone had submitted a report that was favourable to Kerala and he would hold discussions with the Union Environment Minister.

The Union Minister unravelled several other programmes he proposed to implement in the State. This included a Rs.60-crore warehouse complex in Kochi as a joint venture between FACT and the Kerala State Warehousing Corporation and another warehouse complex in Kuttanad to facilitate storage of paddy procured by the government.

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