Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today announced a scheme to distribute free rice and provision kits to school children from pre-primary to class eight in government and aided schools. The scheme will benefit over 26 lakhs students in government and aided schools. The kits will be delivered by the first week of July.

“The government has been constantly intervening to ensure the food security of the people in spite of the crisis caused by the Covid pandemic. Several projects have already been implemented in this regard. Anganwadi children were provided with nutritional supplements at home. During the lockdown period, free rations were provided through ration shops. Food was supplied to households who had difficulty going to these shops. Free provision kits were also distributed. As a continuation of these activities, schoolchildren who used to benefit from mid-day meals programme will be given free provision kits”, said the Chief Minister. The grocery kits would contain rice and nine other items like lentils, sugar, curry powder, salt, etc. An amount of Rs. 81.37 crores have been approved for this purpose.