The Civil Supplies Department discharges the important responsibilities of Public Distribution, enforcement of Markets discipline and promotion of consumer awareness and protection of their interest. The Public Distribution System (PDS) came into existence in the state with effect from 01.07.1965 with the implementation of Kerala Rationing Order, 1966. In the State, which has very high deficit in the production of food grains, the PDS has great relevance and importance. It won many accolades for the pioneering achievements made in 60s and 70s in the implementation of Universal Rationing System.   

    PDS, in the country as a whole, and particularly in the State of Kerala serves two main objectives. The first is to ensure availability of food grains to everyone. The second objective is to ensure that it is at price affordable for even the poorest in the State. Since most of the food grains in the State come from outside the State, the PDS is totally dependent on the food grains supplied by the Government of India through FCI.  

    The Department of Civil Supplies functions under the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs of the Government of Kerala. The Commissioner of Civil Supplies is the Principal Head of the Department. The Secretary to Government, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department holds the post of Commissioner of Civil Supplies concurrently. He exercises the statutory functions entrusted with him under the Kerala Rationing Order 1966, PDS (Control) Order, 2001 and other control orders issued by the government of Kerala under the Essential Commodities Act .

     The Director of Civil Supplies is the functional head of the Department. He is assisted by the Controller of Rationing, Chief Accounts Officer, Finance Officer, Law Officer, Vigilance Officer and three Assistant Secretaries. For administrative convenience, the state is divided into two regions and a Deputy Controller of Rationing is put in charge of each region. In each revenue district there is a District Supply Officer functioning under the general supervision and control of the District Collector. There are 63 taluks in the state and the supervision and control of the public Distribution System are carried out in the taluks by the Taluk Supply Officers. In addition there are two City Rationing Officers each in the municipal corporations of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikkode. The field functionaries of the department are Rationing Inspectors working under the Taluk Supply Officers / City Rationing Officers. The total number of officers/staff in the department is 3129 (including staff on deputation to Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation, Kerala Ration Dealers’ Welfare Fund)

     The primary function of the Civil Supplies Department is to run the Public Distribution System efficiently and to ensure distribution of rationed articles to the people at the price fixed by the Government. The department is also entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring availability of essential commodities in the market at reasonable price and prevention of hoarding, black-marketing and artificial price hike

Name Designation Telephone Numbers Sri. K. R. Jyothilal IAS Secretary Phone: 04712333164 Phone: 04712518485 FaxNo: 04712330617 Email: secy@food.kerala.gov.in Sri. M.A.Mohan Additional Secretary Phone: 04712321101 Phone: 04712518225 Smt. B.Saraswathi Amma Joint Secretary - I Phone: 04712518267 Phone: 04712518090

Name Designation Telephone Numbers Sri. C. DIVAKARAN Honourable Minister for Food,Civil Supplies and Animal Husbandry Phone: 04712333294 Phone: 04712333254 Mobile: 9447777300 Email: minister@food.kerala.gov.in Sri. P. Chandrasenan Private Secretary Phone: 04712333294 Phone: 04712553256 Sri. G. Raveendran Special Private Secretary Phone: 04712333254 Phone: 04712365601 Sri. A.M.Devadathan Additional Private Secretary Phone: 04712333254 Phone: 04712594773 Sri. V.P.Manoj Assistant Private Secretry Phone: 04712333254 Phone: 04712459518