Malappuram: The Mobile ration shop (Public Distribution System shop) scheme implemented by Kerala government has proved to be a big relief to tribal communities.
The scheme has been implemented by the state Food and Civil Supplies Department in order to ensure food security to the tribals based in remote colonies.
In the first phase, as many as 206 tribal families living in Ambumala, Uchakkulam, Nedunkayam and Mundakkadavu tribal settlements, in Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram, would be benefitted by the scheme.
Tribals living in these remote settlements were the worst affected due to floods that hit the Nilambur region this year. They were forced to walk several kilometres to reach PDS distributor shops in Kinattingal, Varikkal, Kalkulam and Kakkadampoyil to acquire food supplies.
Families from Karulayi Village in Mundakkadavu Tribal settlement who had lost their homes and property in this year's floods are currently living in Vattikkallu, Kanjirakkadavu and Pulimunda areas.
They have to walk a long distance through Muthedam Village Panchayath to reach the ration shop in Karulayi Varikkallu ever since road connectivity to Mundakkadavu was lost in this year's flood.
They spend up to rupees 1500 as taxi fare on each trip to bring home their PDS supplies from Karulayi. Also, they are often not able to get their supplies owing to the threat of wild animal and COVID scare.
Thus, mobile ration shops delivering food grains and supplies to tribal households within 10 days of every month has come as a big relief to the people.
Ration cards of every family are collected and taken to their respective PDS distributors by Scheduled Tribe Promotors and Kudumbasree Scheduled Tribe Animators prior to the distribution date.
The supplies are then packed and safely delivered to the families.
Food supplies are allocated as per the ration cards and the state government’s special Onam food kits have already been delivered in a timebound manner to all the tribal families benefitting from this project, in the first phase.
The project was officially inaugurated by the State Minister for Food and Civil Supplies P Thilothaman through video conferencing on August 5. The inauguration programme was presided over by MLA P V Anwar at Karulayi Village Panchayath Office, in Malappuram district.
