THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Food and Civil Supplies Minister GR Anil has said that passport applications and services through Akshaya Centers will now be available at ration shops that are being converted into 'K Stores'. He was speaking after inaugurating the Thiruvananthapuram Manchadimoodu K Store.

This will help ordinary people living in rural areas avoid long journeys to cities for essential services. More than 2300 shops in Kerala have already become K-Stores. The minister also said that the target is to convert 14000 ration shops into 'K-Stores' by the end of Onam.

All CSC services like Aadhaar services, pension services, insurance services, ticket booking etc. will now be available through K-Store. The food distribution network in Kerala will be strengthened to provide value-added services and products by converting ration shops into K-Stores, including in villages where modern facilities are not available.

K-Store will create a big movement in rural areas where banking services are not available. Banking services up to Rs. 10,000 can be done through K-Store. Five-kilogram Chhotu gas cylinders and Milma products can be purchased through K-Store.