Suppliers boycott tender; Supplyco's Christmas / New Year market faces roadblock

KOCHI: Suppliers of subsidized food items to the Civil Supplies Corporation staged a sudden boycott of tenders which hit the Christmas and New Year markets considerably. The e-tenders were boycotted in protest against non-payment of Rs 800 crore arrear for six months.

The Food Grains Pulses and Spices Suppliers Association (FGPSSA) boycotted the tender on Thursday. The suppliers said they would boycott the tender again on Friday. These are tenders for the supply of consumer goods for the Christmas and New Year markets.

Out of 44 food items of Supplyco, 13 items like rice, sugar, chillies, millet, lentils and coriander are provided at subsidized rates. There are 56 Supplyco warehouses in Kerala. In all the warehouses, there are shortage of essential goods and now, the only solace on their way has seen a roadblock with the tender getting boycotted.

Due to non-payment, many suppliers denied supplying goods to Supplyco during the Onam season. And now, with the financial situation worsening, the entire organization has decided to boycott the tender.

As of now, the government is not even ready to pay 50 per cent arrears to the suppliers. Farmers and mill owners have decided not to accept orders from Kerala as they are buying goods on loan from other states. As the bills for the delivered products were not received on time, the withdrawal limit from the bank decreased and the interest increased. Many distributors are under threat from private money lenders.

An indefinite strike will start from the 18th at Supplyco headquarters to protest non-payment of bills. The strike will be from 9.30 am to 5.30 am. About 60 suppliers and family members will attend. A complaint will be forwarded to the Chief Minister in the Ernakulam Nava Kerala Sadas.