THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government will get a profit of Rs.288 crores after central government has made food grains for priority sections free for one year. The state government is giving Rs.3 per kilo to FCI to give rice to those with yellow and pink ration cards owners.

This free rice distribution was announced on Friday as an alternate to the PMGKY project that was discontinued. The PMGKY had begun during Covid. In Kerala, 15,480,040 people will benefit from this move.

Though rice is being received from the Center at Rs.3 per kilo, the Civil Supplies authorities say that after giving commission to ration traders and transportation cost, the state government incurs an expense of Rs.7.50 per kilo. The decision of how to implement the central government’s decision will be taken after the order is received. The Food Department is not clear if there would be a change in the share of rice grains.