Kerala Govt To Upgrade Maveli Stores, Launch 24x7 Convenience Outlets

Kozhikode: Kerala Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob on Friday said the government would upgrade Maveli Stores into Super Stores, launch round-the-clock Supplyco convenience outlets and intensify market intervention measures ahead of the Onam season to ensure the availability of essential commodities at affordable prices.

The minister said the government has decided to open 24x7 Supplyco convenience stores as part of its efforts to strengthen the state's public distribution network.

The first such outlet, included in the government's 100-day action programme, will begin operations at the Vyttila Hub in Ernakulam in September, following which the initiative will be expanded to other major urban centres, he said.

Jacob was speaking after inaugurating the upgraded Maveli Super Store at Mathottam.

Stressing the importance of an efficient public distribution system in a consumer state like Kerala, the minister said timely market intervention by Supplyco was essential to curb price fluctuations and provide relief to consumers.

He said the state would begin its Onam market intervention well in advance this year, with the Onam Fair to be inaugurated by Chief Minister V D Satheesan on August 8 in Ernakulam.

Trade fairs will be organised in three major cities, including Kozhikode, while district-level Onam fairs and constituency-level local fairs will commence from August 12, he said.

To ensure adequate availability of subsidised commodities during the festival season, the allocation of products earmarked for September would be made available in August itself, Jacob said.

The minister also announced that 1.65 lakh metric tonnes of rice would be supplied to the open market at subsidised rates during August to ensure sufficient availability.

He asserted that the state's financial constraints would not affect welfare measures or the distribution of subsidised essential commodities.

Jacob further said a new marketing strategy would be implemented through Supplyco's network of around 1,600 outlets across the state.

The strategy aims to improve the corporation's financial sustainability by increasing sales of non-subsidised products and generating additional revenue through advertisements, with the extra income to be utilised for expanding subsidy benefits to consumers, he added.