Govt to start rice shops in all panchayats

KANNUR: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob Friday said that the government will start 'Rice Shops' from next week in all panchayats to check hike in the price of essential commodities.

Addressing a meet the press programme organized by Kannur Press Club here, Jacob said ten kg of rice would be distributed fortnightly to consumers through ration card. He said the government had directed district supply officers to conduct raids at rice hoarding places and warned of stern action against those who were found hoarding rice.

The government was planning to modernise Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns to avoid deviation and hoarding of PDS items and for this purpose vehicle tracking system would be installed in lorries while loading PDS items. The minister assured that this year the farmers would get the price of paddy at the rate of 17 Rs per kg and for this purpose an agreement had been signed by respective cooperative banks and supply companies. Minister said the government was planning to renovate all ration shops and make them customer friendly.

The government was also mulling to introduce total computerization and implement single window system in registration department, he added. The distribution of nine subsidised cylinders to the consumers without considering APL/BPL category was in under process and the problems of lorry drivers in bullet tankers would be solved soon, however the priority would be given to the security of the life of the people, Jacob said.