Thiruvananthapuram, Nov. 1 -- Congress leader Cherian Philip has alleged that the State government's declaration of achieving 'extreme-poverty-free' Kerala will end up denying free ration to 5.29 lakh of the poorest families currently receiving benefits under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).
Philip said that those holding yellow ration cards under AAY may lose free rice and wheat if the Centre withdraws assistance based on the State's claim of having eliminated extreme poverty.
"The government's publicity-seeking declaration will hit the poorest hard. Their food bowl is being kicked over," he said.
He recalled that the Ashraya project launched in 2002 during the A.K. Antony government marked the beginning of Kerala's targeted extreme-pov...