Supplyco shops facing empty shelves amidst arriving Onam season

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is stoic silence within the finance ministry despite the food department expressing fear that the allotted Rs 100 crore won't help them start the Onam market. The CPI leadership blamed some officers within the Finance ministry for hatcheting plans to stall the smooth functioning of the food department.

Supplyco, serving to control prices of essential commodities during festival season, now needs at least Rs 500 crore to hold Onam fairs across the state. Putting the Rs 100 crore allotted in the forefront to attract distributors, Supplyco called for tenders but surprisingly, no distribution agency participated. Supplyco owes a total of Rs 650 crore to its suppliers.

Before last Onam, the dues to suppliers were Rs 450 crore. The government allowed Rs 70 crores to alleviate tensions and to encourage distributors to participate in the onam tender in 2023. The suppliers brought the goods to the market under the guarantee given by the government but the dues were not paid. This has now amassed to Rs 650 crores.

Outlets that once had a daily turnover of Rs one lakh have now plummeted to Rs 10,000. Only 'Jaya' rice and coconut oil are available in Supplyco among the list of 13 subsidized commodities.

Minister G. R. Anil wrote to Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal to allocate Rs 500 crores, but the efforts proved futile with the ministry not even caring to respond. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam had informed CPM state secretary MV Govindan that lagging in market intervention would be bad for the government. In the earlier CPM state leadership meeting, it was pointed out that there is a need for correction.