2023-11-30 23:00:57
The financial crisis of the state government and SupplyCo is causing disruption in the ration distribution sector in Kerala. The Kerala Contractors Association has announced plans to go on strike in response to the overdue transport bill of ration goods from Supplyco, which has been pending for two months.
The ration traders have also signaled a possible strike by abstaining from stocktaking as their commission for two months is still pending. If the strike goes ahead, ration shops may face a shortage of goods by mid-December.
The state committee meeting of the Kerala Contractors Association has decided to hold an indicative strike on the 10th of this month, followed by an indefinite strike, to protest against the non-payment of bill dues. The All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers Association has also expressed their concerns to the Chief Minister and the Food Minister, stating that they will refrain from pre-paid stocking of ration items for white and blue cardholders due to the pending commission for the months of October and November.
In response to the situation, the central government has announced that it will directly pay transport contractors who carry out ‘doorstep distribution’ of ration goods to godowns and then to ration shops. The Food and Public Distribution Commissioner has directed Supplyco to collect the names of contractors’ bank account numbers and other information immediately in preparation for this change.
The financial crisis in Kerala has evidently had ripple effects on the ration distribution sector and it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved in the coming weeks.
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