Date:06/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/12/06/stories/2004120601661301.htm

Back Kerala to provide rice for poor families

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Adoor Prakash, has said that 1.14 lakh poor families in the State would be provided rice at Rs 3 per kg as part of the Andyodaya Annayojana scheme.

Addressing newspersons here on Saturday, he said these families would get 35 kg of rice a month at the offered rate from this month itself. Elaborating on the targets achieved by his department under the Chief Minister's 100-day programme, he said 27 new `Labhom' and `Maveli' fair price stores that provide essential commodities at moderate prices started functioning in the State.

More such stores would be opened by December 15. Five Maveli medical stores too had been opened, he added. Steps were on to make essential commodities vended through the `Labhom' stores available to the public through 1,400 selected ration shops as well.