KOCHI: The Kizhakkambalam panchayat in the eastern part of Ernakulam district will be able to boast about the first of its kind food security market in the country built on 10,000 sq ft from Friday when the market is launched by Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari at a function in the panchayat. An initiative of ‘Twenty20’, the unique body that rules the panchayat, the market will ensure a steady price for farmers from the panchayat by avoiding middlemen and sell products at half the price of market rates, according to promoters. The “Bakshya Suraksha Market” which has been functioning in an informal manner from a temporary shed so far, will have modern amenities and structure to house from Friday under ‘Twenty20’ which is floated by the Anna-Kitex Group.
The bazaar sells vegetables, groceries, food items and other essential goods at 50 per cent discount to the market prices. The beneficiaries are the people of the panchayat who are divided into segments according to their income and the less privileged are given special concessions. During festive seasons, when the prices of vegetables, fruits and other groceries increase phenomenally, “Twenty20” provides these essential necessities at a 50-70 per cent discount. They do this by promoting farming in the village and procuring the produce directly from farmers at a fair price without involving middle men. This practice has benefited both the farmers and the public. The market also sources vegetables and fruits from neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
“Twenty20 has a quality control team to check the quality of the products before they are supplied to people. More than 7,500 families in the Kizhakk-ambalam panchayat depend on this food security market for their daily needs. The market also provides employment opportunities to the local people. With a permanent building in place, we have decided to add other essential household commodities at discounted prices in the market,” said Sabu M. Jacob, chief coordinator of Twenty 20 Kizhakkambalam and managing director of Kitex Garments Ltd. “The long-term objective of Twenty20 is to make Kizhakkambalam a model village by the year 2020 — a model of sustainable development which can be replicated anywhere in India and the world. It assumes significance when almost 30 percent of India’s rural population continues to live in poverty,” he said.
