Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said on July 19 that food distribution by NGOs in government hospitals disrupts hospital operations. He referred to supplies provided by Sevabharati at medical colleges and district hospitals, as well as similar efforts by ISKCON and DYFI. The minister stated that distribution under any organisational banners or flags would be halted. He added that the Health Department plans to launch a Community Kitchen scheme, starting on a trial basis at Alappuzha Medical College.
The announcement drew criticism from opposition parties and members of the Congress. Muraleedharan later clarified that the government was not stopping food supplies but had removed illegal encroachments and unauthorised vendors. He maintained that patient meals should be managed through the Community Kitchen. Reports indicate that distribution of food packets has continued to face restrictions.
Sevabharati has provided meals to patients and bystanders at government medical colleges and taluk hospitals across Kerala for several decades, operating at more than fifty locations. The organisation also runs a facility in Thiruvananthapuram offering accommodation for out-of-town patients and attendants. Patients, bystanders and hospital staff have expressed appreciation for the service. The minister noted that the government provides meals for patients, while questions remain about support for bystanders from low-income families.
