Report From CMO
Trivandrum, March 29: Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan announced that the State plans to keep adequate food stock during this lockdown period and the citizens need not do panic shopping. “We are taking all possible steps to ensure the availability of food stock and our plan is to have a three months buffer food stock in the State”, he said during his daily interaction with the media at the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram.
Necessary instructions have been given to various organisations like the FCI, Kerala State Co-operative Consumers Federation (ConsumerFed), the Kerala State Co-operative Marketing Federation (MarketFed) and the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (SupplyCo) to work together in aggregating the stock consisting of foodgrains, dry ration, essential commodities and perishable goods. The Central Government and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) has offered all support in our efforts to ramp up the food stock. Even though the State is in a lockdown, the food consumption is expected to increase due to the forthcoming Easter and Vishu festivals.
Collection and distribution of local produce like fruits and vegetables will be done using the regional vendors. There is vegetable cultivation in Kerala is spread over 57,000 hectares. The harvesting of vegetables and fruits like Pineapple will be allowed provided they take proper safety precautions.
“Steps are being taken to explore online distribution channels to encourage online shopping and home delivery so that people don’t have to come out of their homes during the lockdown. We will also make the necessary arrangements to transport the food stock by road, rail and waterways. Freight transport has been exempted from the lockdown restrictions. We plan to start the distribution of rice through Ration Shops from April 1st.
Only six fresh cases were reported today in Kerala taking the total number to 165. Two of the new cases are from Thiruvananthapuram District, and one each from Kollam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kasargod Districts. Two patients from Kottayam and one each from Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam districts have fully recovered. This includes one foreign national.
1,34,370 persons are under observation in the State including 1,33,750 under home observation and 620 in hospitals. 148 people were hospitalised today. 6,067 samples have been sent for testing and 5,276 have tested negative.
Kerala satisfied with TN response, concerned with Karnataka actions
Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today appreciated the intervention of the Tamil Nadu Government in resolving the inter-state goods movement issue through Palakkad check post. Trucks and vehicles have been instructed to be disinfected before crossing the border. Kerala Minister for Water Resources, Shri K Krishnankutty will be meeting TN Minister for Municipal Administration, Shri S P Velumani and Deputy Speaker, Shri V Jayaraman tomorrow at Nadapulli check-post to address the issues there.
However, the Chief Minister expressed his concern over the non-cooperation from the Karnataka Government in removing the roadblocks erected by them on the roads bordering Malapuram district. “Karnataka has not heeded to our request to remove the roadblocks. I have been trying to contact their Chief Minister, Shri B S Yeddyurappa but not able to reach him. We have briefed the Union Minister Shri D V Sadananda Gowda and he has offered to resolve the issue. Our Chief Secretary has also briefed the Central Cabinet Secretary and we expect a resolution soon. We request Karnataka to consider opening the borders for patients requiring emergency treatment as they are closer to Mangalore, especially dialysis patients. People of Malappuram are dependent on Mangalore for most of their needs including health services.”
“The Chief Ministers of different states are in touch with us regarding the status of their people here in Kerala. We have also informed the governments of TN, Nagaland, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Manipur, Rajasthan and MP about the steps being taken for the welfare of migrant labourers in Kerala. We have appointed a senior officer to coordinate the efforts at the State level,” he added.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Smt K K Shailaja Teacher, and Revenue Minister, Shri E Chandrasekharan, were also present during the briefing today.
