Idukki (Kerala) | The Kerala Food Commission has submitted a report highlighting serious irregularities in ration distribution in Edamalakudy, the only tribal panchayat in the state, and recommended urgent corrective and legal action against those responsible.

Located about 30 km from the tourist town of Munnar, Edamalakkudy is mainly inhabited by members of the Muthuvan tribal community.

State Food Commission Chairperson Jinu Zakaria Oommen on Saturday led an inspection of ration shops in the remote panchayat under Devikulam taluk following complaints from beneficiaries about disruption in supply, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.

During the visit, the Commission inspected ration outlets operated by the Girijan Service Cooperative Society and interacted directly with residents across various hamlets.

A preliminary inquiry by the civil supplies department had earlier detected a shortage of 65 metric tonnes of food grains, prompting the Idukki District Collector to initiate a detailed probe.

"Earlier, the District Supply Officer (DSO) submitted a report to the government citing a huge difference in rice. We carried out the inspection in the wake of the report," Oommen told PTI.

The official said that, as the Food Commissioner, he examined whether there was any irregularity in the ration distribution.

He said that the beneficiaries alleged that the ration distribution was irregular during the past two to three months and accused the society of issuing illegal tokens.

The Commission found that at one of the ration shops, there were no records to show the receipt or distribution of food grains, it said.

Mandatory registers were also not maintained, and the shop was functioning in violation of prescribed norms, the statement said, quoting the Commission.

Beneficiaries informed the Commission that they were not receiving their entitled rations regularly since February, the statement said.

Many alleged that they were issued tokens and asked to come again later, only to be denied supplies, citing expiry of the tokens. The Commission noted that issuing such tokens is illegal.

It also observed that a ration depot in the area was operating in a dilapidated building.

The Commission held the licensee of the ration shops, the secretary of the Girijan Service Cooperative Society, responsible for the lapses.

It also pointed to serious negligence on the part of officials of the civil supplies department, including the District Supply Officer, Devikulam Taluk Supply Officer and rationing inspectors in this regard.

The Commission said it would recommend prosecution proceedings under the Essential Commodities Act and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, against the licensee and other responsible persons.

It further directed that strict action be taken against the concerned officials who were in charge since February 2026.

To address grievances of affected beneficiaries, the Commission has instructed the district-level grievance redressal officer to organise an adalat in coordination with the panchayat to identify those who were denied rations and ensure distribution of food security allowance.

The Commission also directed the civil supplies department to take immediate steps to ensure uninterrupted ration supply in the remote tribal region, including exploring the feasibility of mobile ration shops.

A report in this regard would be submitted to the government on Monday, Oommen added.

Officials, including the Devikulam Tahsildar and local police personnel, were among those who accompanied the Commission during the inspection.