Kerala to extend 'community kitchens' to all tribal hamlets

The 'community kitchen' scheme, a nutritional meal programme envisaged to address the malnutrition issues of tribals in Kerala, will soon be extended to all tribal hamlets across the state, Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Tribes A K Balan said here today.
"Community kitchens will be opened in all tribal hamlets. At present 59 community kitchens are there in the 186 tribal hamlets in Attappady, one of the largest tribal settlements in the state," he informed the state assembly here.
Replying to a question on the welfare of tribals, he said the LDF government would distribute food and cereal kits to 1.6 lakh tribal families living in various settlements to fight poverty during the months of famine.

A total of Rs two crore had been earmarked for distributing the food kits, comprising essential commodities like rice, cereal, oil, jaggery, salt and so on, Balan added.
Stating that the government's focus was on development of eco-tribal habitats, the minister said they have no plans to relocate over 26,000 primitive tribes living inside forests as part of rehabilitation.
The 'community kitchen' scheme was first started in the tribal areas of Palakkad district in 2013 to provide one full meal each day to children below six years, adolescents, pregnant women, and those above 60 years of age.