Supplyco gains by serving prosperity

Perhaps it is because there was no arrangement called "black market" in trade during the time of Mahabali that this matter is not mentioned in the old Onam songs. It was only with the emergence of an invisible class called middlemen that the black market emerged as part of the market. The simple philosophy of the black market is to collect and hoard goods in advance, create a false scarcity of them when the time comes, and then take out the stock a little at a time, creating a natural situation for price increases. There is no better "harvest season" for middlemen in Kerala than Onam.

Although the government has been cracking down on black marketers by making essential commodities available at reasonable prices through public distribution networks during such seasons, this intervention has not been fully effective in the past few years due to various reasons, including financial constraints. However, it must be said that it is a good result of the Food and Public Distribution Department anticipating such obstacles and preparing and implementing a precise plan this year that the government has been able to limit concerns and allegations about price hikes this Onam season. From avoiding last-minute non-cooperation by suppliers over arrears to ensuring that essential commodities are available at Supplyco outlets and Onam fairs of various government agencies at significantly lower prices than in the open market, the credit for ensuring meticulous attention at every stage goes mainly to Minister G.R. Anil, who heads the Food and Civil Supplies Department.

This season is not only about Supplyco clearing the air and creating an environment for the common man to celebrate Onam without any hassle. As per the figures till September 3, Supplyco had a turnover of Rs 354 crore during the Onam season! Of this, the corporation achieved a turnover of Rs 15.70 crore on a single day on August 27. This is an increase of 33 lakhs from the previous daily turnover record of Rs 15.37 crore. It is estimated that a total of 51.87 lakh customers visited Supplyco stores during the Onam season. Like the health and education sectors, the Civil Supplies Department has the strongest service network in the public sector in Kerala. These figures are also a good example that no black marketer can beat the government's public distribution system if the availability of goods and fair prices at subsidized rates are ensured.

The joy and satisfaction of the unique achievement achieved by Supplyco was the first thing Minister G.R. Anil shared with the media persons who had gathered to hear about the news while preparing for the Onam Sadya at his official residence. His smile was full of its essence. At the same time, the minister also spoke about the importance of strong market intervention at all times, not just during festive seasons. There may be no difficulty in repeating this year's 'Onam Supplyco Result' if the suppliers' dues are settled in phases and a plan is prepared in advance, anticipating the seasons when there is a possibility of black marketing, and the Finance Department is informed in advance about the amount required for all this. Let Supplyco's pledge and goal be "Prosperity always".