‘People’s Scheme’, a project launched by the district panchayat to market food products under the brand name ‘People Food Products’ in association with state Kudumbashree Mission has come to a standstill owing to ineffective marketing.
The scheme halted midway as the district panchayat failed to market the products properly as promised, said the neighourhood groups who started the units. Information accessed from the district panchayat through the Right To Information (RTI) Act by ‘Express’ reveals that out of the 21 units of ‘People Food Products’ started in various panchayats of the district not even a single unit is functioning now.
The district panchayat even failed to provide the date on which the project was started saying that it does not possess the details, showing the lethargy on the part of the district panchayat to implement an ambitious scheme launched for the welfare and progress of neighbourhood groups.
It should be noted that the district panchayat had spent more than Rs 33 lakh to buy machinery and arrange other facilities to launch the scheme.
The information gathered through RTI shows that the scheme was implemented in 21 panchayats, including Navayikulam, Kizhuvillam, Pulimathu, Mudakkal, Malayinkeezhu, Tholikodu, Vizhinjam, Maaranalloor, Vilappil, Kalliyoor, Perumkadavila, Kollayil, Ottasekharamangalam, Kallikadu, Aryanadu, Vembayam, Vellarada, Vamanapuram, Sreekariyam, Venganoor and Karakulam.
Each unit was producing different products like pickles, flour, weaning food, powder for diabetic patients, curry powder, chips, dried prawns, ‘pappadam’ and the like.
‘’We were a 15-member group producing powder for diabetic patients. The members of the unit were selected after interview. We contributed Rs 5,000 per head to the unit to make it functioning’’.