Schemes and Programmes

1. The Targeted Public Distribution System

(TPDS) is implemented in the State from 1-6-1997 onwards. Under the scheme, the households are classified as APL and BPL, distinctive ration cards are issued to them and food grains distributed at the prices fixed by the Government. Out of the 6611298 Cardholders in the State, 4568811 families are under APL and 1570775 families are under BPL category. Food grains are allotted by the Government of India for distribution to the cardholders at the rate of 35 Kg per month irrespective of the category. Rice, Wheat, Levy Sugar and Kerosene are the rationed articles supplied through the ration shops to the cardholders in the state under the Public Distribution System.

The Authorized Wholesale Distributors are appointed by the District Collectors while the Retail Ration Distributors are appointed by the District Supply Officers .The Authorized Retail Distributors distribute rationed articles to the cardholders on production of the ration cards issued by the Taluk Supply Officers/City Rationing Officers at the scale and price fixed by the Government from time to time.

2. Antyodaya Anna Yojana

Under this scheme, 35 Kgs of food grains is distributed to the poorest of the poor families at the rate of Rs. 3/Kg. The scheme is implemented in the State from 25-2-2001 onwards. Since then the scheme was expanded twice w.e.f 01/2004 and 01/2005. Now the number of beneficiaries under the scheme is 471800. Central allotment of rice for AAY scheme is 16322 MTs/month.

3. Annapoorna Scheme

Under this scheme, 10 Kgs of food grains is distributed per month free of cost to destitute above the age of 65 years with no or meager subsistence. The Government of India fixed the target at 44980, being 20% of the number of persons who are eligible for National Old Age Pension, but not getting the pension for some reasons. The scheme is implemented in the State with effect from 14-2-2001.

Though the scheme was originally implemented as a Central Sector Scheme, the pattern of central assistance was changed in 2002-03. Now, the scheme is implemented with additional central assistance and the level of expenditure reached during the year 2000-01 is treated as the mandatory commitment of the State Government. The budget provision for implementation of the scheme during the current year is Rs 334 Lakhs.

4. Price and Rate of Distribution of Rice / Wheat

Category of Card holder Quantity of Distribution Price Rs/Kg.
Rice   Wheat
35 Kg Rice or Wheat 8.90     6.70
BPL 75% of 25Kg/card/month 2.00 2.00
AAY 35Kg/card/month 2.00     NA
ANP 10Kg/card/month Free of cost     NA

5. Distribution of Sugar

Levy Sugar allotted by the Government of India is lifted by the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation and made available for distribution to the ARDs at the Taluk level depots. The ARDs lift the levy sugar from the Taluk Depots of the corporation and distribute to the cardholders.

From February 2001 onwards issue of PDS sugar was limited to BPL families alone. The rate of distribution is 400gms/Person/month.
6. Distribution of Kerosene

Distribution of kerosene is governed by the €œKerala Kerosene Control Order, 1968€ promulgated by the State Government under the essential Commodities act, 1955. As per this order, sufficient number of Kerosene Wholesale Dealers (KWDs) are appointed by the District Collector concerned and these KWDs lift the stock of kerosene allotted to them every month by the Departmental Officers from respective companies, IOC, BPC, IBP and HPC and make it available for distribution to the ARDs who in turn lift the stock allotted to them and distributor to the card holders.

The scale of distribution is 2 liters per month for electrified houses and 5 liters per month for non- electrified houses for lighting purposes. Apart from this, permits for cooking purposes have been given to 958145 households at the rate of 6litres per month. Kerosene permits for fishing purposes are also issued to fishermen.

Kerala Ration Dealer's Welfare Fund Scheme

This is a scheme formulated by Government as per the provisions of Kerala Ration Dealer€™s Welfare Fund Act, 1988 for implementing welfare measures for the Ration Dealers . The Fund constituted as per the scheme is managed by a governing body with Commissioner of Civil Supplies as ex-officio Chairman and 10 members.
The Fund is raised with the subscription of Ration Dealers (members) which is at present Rs 50 /month. At the time of enrolment , a membership fee of Rs 100 /- is also collected. Now there are 11800 live members. A Deputy Controller of Rationing from the Department of Civil Supplies functions as the Chief Executive Officer of the Fund with 5 supporting ministerial staff.
The following schemes are implemented under the scheme:

Pension

Members who have completed 65 years of age with minimum period of 10 years service are entitled to pension as soon as they cease to be dealers . The amount of pension is Rs 500 /month W.E.F 1/4/2003. The pension amount is disbursed quarterly by way of Money Order at their expense on the fifth working day of every succeeding quarter. At present there are 468 pensioners.

Lump sum of Payment

(i) In the event of death of a member before attaining the age of 70, the legal heirs/nominees are paid a lump sum amount ranging from Rs 10000 to 40000 based on the number of completed years of membership.
(ii) In the event of death of a member after completing the age of 70 or due to cessation of membership, the legal heirs / nominees / members are paid a lumpsum amount ranging from Rs 620 to Rs 40000 on the number of completed years of membership.

Medical Assistance

A member who sustains injury, physical disability or grievous hurt in an accident is given financial assistance upto Rs 5000.Medical assistance upto Rs 15000/- is also sanctioned to the members or their family members for transplantation of kidney, cardiac surgery, limb fitting or for treatment of fatal diseases like cancer.

Educational Scholarships

Three children each of the members who secure highest marks in SSLC and Higher Secondary examinations are paid scholarship @ Rs 2500/-.

Interest Free Loans

Interest free loans are given to the members who have completed five years of membership and have a minimum deposit of Rs 2500 at their credit.