The Left Democratic Front State committee has urged the State government to mobilise all parties to pressure the Central government to sanction necessary food grains to Kerala and sort out issues that have cropped up in connection with the implementation of the Food Security Act.
In a statement here on Monday at the end of the LDF State committee meeting, LDF convener Vaikom Vishwan said that under the Food Security Act, the State’s food grain allocation had been cut to 14 lakh tonnes from the 16.2 lakh tonnes it needed. Similarly, the priority list has been restricted to 1.54 crore persons, leading to the exclusion of a large number of people from the rationing system. He said the Centre had committed itself to releasing enough food grain for Kerala in view of its contribution to foreign exchange earnings. The Centre’s policy is preventing the State from providing ration to non-priority categories.
The LDF committee urged the Centre to extend assistance to the State to tackle drought which was getting worse by the day. It urged the State to tap and expand available drinking water resources. In view of the difficult days ahead, the drought situation cannot be tackled by the government alone. The committee recommended cleaning of tanks and ponds under the Haritha Keralam project. Local bodies should mobilise people for the Haritha Keralam project. The drought had affected the lives of agriculturists and agriculture labourers, leading to a virtual stoppage of cultivation.
‘Save KSRTC’
The committee asked the State government to save the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, which was going through its worst crisis ever. It wanted the government to ensure that the payment of salary and pension is not disrupted.
The committee also decided to go in for appropriate celebration of the first elected government that assumed office 60 years ago on April 5, 1957. Elaborate programmes will be organised at the government level from April 5 to 11, Mr. Vishwam said.
