Kerala CM: Will provide free food kits and home delivery to the needy during the lockdown

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has declared a lockdown from 8th May to 16th May due to an increase in COVID 19 incidents. In a tweet, Pinarayi Vijayan said, "This is in the context of a strong second wave of COVID-19."

The government also released a new set of instructions on Thursday, ahead of the 8-day statewide lockout. According to the guidelines, stores selling food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish, animal fodder, poultry and cattle feed, and bakeries, including ration shops (under PDS), must remain open. The stores, however, will have to close by 7:30 p.m.

To prevent the spread of the virus, district officials are also advised to make home deliveries easier, as per the guidelines.

On Friday evening, the Chief Minister took to Twitter once more to reassure the people of Kerala that there would be no shortage of food supplies during the lockdown and that appropriate steps have been taken to assist those in need.

"During the lockdown, no one would go hungry. Both families and guest workers will receive free food kits starting next week. Food will be supplied to the poor by Local Self Government Institutions from People's Restaurants and Community Kitchens ", he posted on Twitter.

Nobody will go hungry during the lockdown. Next week onwards free food kits will be distributed for all families and guest workers. Food will be delivered to the needy from People's Restaurants and Community Kitchens through Local Self Government Institutions.

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) May 7, 2021

To combat the pandemic's second wave, most states have implemented partial lockdowns or containment measures. K VijayRaghavan, the centre's top scientific advisor, recently issued a similar alert about the "inevitable" third wave of coronavirus.