Punjab and Kerala on Thursday chalked out collective strategy to supplement each others food requirement. Taking the initiative, Punjab Government offered direct grain supply, including that of wheat and rice, to Kerala as per its specifications, keeping Food Corporation of India out of loop. The decisions were taken during a detailed meeting between the team from Punjab Government led by the State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon and the delegation of Kerala Government led by its Food Minister Anoop Jacob.
The meeting was primarily aimed at identifying the areas where both States can work out a compatible solution to meet each other's food requirements. Kairon gave a detailed presentation explaining the Asia's big procurement operation conducted by the State. He said that Punjab was contributing more than 210 lakh metric tonnes of food grain to the central kitty, feeding a population of 35 crore and meeting 44 per cent food requirement of the country. Kairon said that Punjab can directly supply rice and wheat to the southern State as per its specific requirements.
Anoop Jacob said that Kerala would like to seek grains from Punjab in 40 kg packs. A delegation of Punjab Government would visit Kerala to work out modalities. lauding the new Public Distribution System (PDS) introduced by Punjab in which six months or lump sum quota is provided directly to the beneficiaries keeping out the intermediaries, he said that Kerala would like to replicate this model while implementing Food Security Act in the State.
He also praised Punjab for being a leading State in adopting Food Security Act. Briefing the delegation, Principal Secretary Food and Supplies G Vajralingam said that Punjab had procured 115-125 lakh metric tonne of paddy during the recent paddy procurement in all the 1,800 different locations set up for this purpose.