Ration cards for all in Kerala: CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While briefing reporters of the decisions taken during a Cabinet meeting in Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala announced that all families in the state will be issued ration cards within a year. After a survey conducted under the Life Mission project found that a number of families in the state did not have ration cards, the issue was brought to the attention of the state government which decided to quickly act on it. The cards would be issued to those who did not have house permits, numbers and such others.

The CM further stated that all work related to maintenance and repair of state roads will also be completed in this year itself. As a part of a power saving drive, all street lights will be replaced with LEDs. District Collectors will organise taluk-level adalats to clear pending complaints and petitions this year itself. Ministers would attend the adalats, if needed.

Vijayan added that roadside amenities like public washrooms and resting areas will be constructed across the state with the help of local bodies and that the state will also set up a State Industrial Security Force on the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

In the meeting, decisions were also taken to form a voluntary social organization comprising of citizens between the age of 16 and 64 to help those in distress during natural calamities like floods. A directorate comprising the Fire and Rescue Services, Police Department, Local Self-Government and Revenue departments, NCC and NSS would also be formed for coordinating such activities.