Free Kit: Officials and the rich will be excluded

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is planning to exclude the rich and government employees from the list of those eligible for free food kits through ration shops. The government is forced to consider this as it is suffering from a huge financial liability due to the free food kits. As of now, Rs 4050 crore has been spent in this regard. An average of Rs 405 crore is required per month.

The Department of Civil Supplies has requested those who are financially capable to withdraw themselves from the free food kit scheme. The list of those to be excluded is being prepared by the department officials. These people will be excluded from the list for free food kits along with those ineligible beneficiaries who are holding the priority cards meant for the poor.

The free food kit scheme is valid until June. Its distribution will be completed in July. The next cabinet meeting will consider whether to continue the project. It has been decided to distribute the free Onam food kits to all in August.

The distribution of the free food kits began in September last year, following the Covid induced lockdown. In the ensuing three-tier panchayat elections, it was assessed that the distribution of kits paved the way for the victory of the Left. With that, the project was extended. The Assembly elections also inspired it.

Why free food kits to government officials and the rich?

There has been a lot of criticism on social media against giving free kits to government officials and the super-rich who receive higher monthly salaries with the pay revision. Several people have raised questions as to whether the highly paid government employees, who remain idle during the lockdown period, are the same as the ordinary people who are in crisis due to inability to go to work.

Challenge
Many who are eligible for the priority card have received a Non-Priority (White) card. Therefore, it is not possible to exclude people from the list based on the current card.

Solution
Steps are being taken to address the shortfall in ration card distribution. If this is completed flawlessly, ineligible people can be removed from the list on the basis of the card. The Civil Supplies Department has been collecting data on government employees since the last government. It can be the norm in the case of officials.