K.V. Thomas, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has said that his Ministry would supply grains to below-poverty-line card-holders under the new food distribution programme with the help of funds from a consortium of banks.
He was addressing a meeting organised by State Forum of Bankers' Clubs Kerala here on Saturday.
Mr. Thomas said that while there had been instances of loan waivers to distressed segments such as farmers, such gestures should not be considered as a routine affair. The Minister gave away ‘banking excellence awards 2011.' The businessman of the year award was presented to entrepreneur, B. Ravi Pillai. Finance Minister K.M. Mani; Excise Minister K. Babu; former judge of Supreme Court, V.R. Krishna Iyer; District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareed; South Indian bank CEO V.A. Joseph; UAE Exchange managing director B.R. Shetty were present. Abraham Thariyan, chief patron of the forum, welcomed the gathering.
