THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that Kerala boasts the lowest inflation rate in the country. He made this announcement while inaugurating the state-level Supplyco Onam Fest in Thiruvananthapuram. Despite being a consumer-driven state, where prices of goods typically tend to rise significantly, the Chief Minister pointed out that Kerala has managed to keep price hikes below the national average. This achievement is attributed to the determined measures implemented by the state government to provide relief to the people.

On a retail sales basis, the national inflation rate for July stood at 7.44 percent. Vegetable prices witnessed a surge of 37 percent nationwide, while prices of cereals and pulses experienced a 13 percent increase.

Supplyco, a non-profit organization has encountered attempts by vested interests to alter its nature. There is a concerted effort to undermine Supplyco through propagandistic means. This is particularly concerning as the common people heavily rely on Supplyco. The government is committed to ensuring that essential goods are made available according to the needs of the people. Occasionally, certain items might be unavailable due to factors such as out-of-stocks or delays in product arrivals. Additionally, items that are stocked based on a month's calculation often sell out quickly. The Chief Minister emphasized that Supplyco is generating substantial turnover.

The presiding minister, G R Anil, observed that if the daily sales of Supplyco are tallied, it becomes evident that significant sales are consistently taking place. Minister Antoni Raju conducted the first sale, while Minister V Sivankutty inaugurated the launch of Sabari products. V Joy MLA, District Panchayat President D Suresh Kumar, Deputy Mayor P K Raju, Pallichal Vijayan and Sreeram Venkitaraman, Chairman and MD of Supplyco also shared their perspectives.