Thiruvananthapuram: Ruling LDF on Monday decided to convene an all party meeting to discuss restoration of ration quota and worsening drought situation in the state. At a press conference held after the meeting, LDF Convenor Vaikom Viswan said an all party meeting would be convened on Wednesday to reach a consensus on the strategy to be adopted for applying pressure on the Centre for restoration of ration quota. The ration quota was cut following implementation of Food Safety Act.
He said though the state requires 16.2 metric tonne food grains, it is currently only 14 lakh metric tonne. The priority list has been restricting to 54 lakh beneficiaries depriving thousands of people of their right to food grain. “Chief Minister and food ministers have taken up the matter with Centre on several occasions. Barring assurances nothing concrete has happened so far,” he said. LDF is in favour of sending an all party delegation to Delhi to take up the matter with the Centre again.
Vaikom Viswan urged the government to take comprehensive steps to provide potable drinking water to people in drought affected areas. “This is the worst drought in the last five decades. This is the first time that drinking water not avialble. Farmers and farm workers are the worst affected. The rain deficit this time was more than 60 per cent,” he said and called upon people to help Haritha Kerala Mission.
