ALAPPUZHA: State Food Commission sought a report on the incident of transferring the free chickpeas and peas given under centre’s PM Garib Kalyan Annayojana. The commission chairman K V Mohankumar has sought reports from civil supplies director and state rationing controller.

In Kerala, 38.36 lakh ration cardholders are entitled to get chickpeas and peas under the Garib Kalyan Annayojana Programme. But among them, 12 lakh ration card holders are yet to get the quota that they are entitled in the month of November. As the issue has set off another controversy, the state government is gearing up to fulfil the arrears and distribute the food items to remaining beneficiaries as soon as possible.

The public distribution department has given direction to authorities concerned on Monday, to distribute chickpeas and peas to the remaining pink and yellow cardholders on January itself and fulfil the arrears. The state food commissioner intervened over the issue, as the food items to be distributed are entitled to those who comes under the purview of the National Food Security Act. The commission will also provide facility to those beneficiaries to raise complaints, who have not received chickpeas and peas.

The centre has approved chickpeas and peas worth a kilo each to the cardholders since last May and the distribution went on until October. But as severe shortage was reported in the distribution of food kits, the food items under the programme were transferred for the food kits distribution.