Ration dealers' welfare fund: Rs 5 crore to be collected from cardholders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The food department has decided to increase the welfare fund of ration dealers by collecting Rs 1 per month from the ration buyers. AAY members will be exempted.

Collection is for a maximum of one year. If the amount becomes 5 crores in six months, it will be paid to the welfare fund and the collection will be stopped. The ration shopkeepers demanded to collect two rupees each from the cardholders and pay it to the welfare fund.

No commission for Onam kit

It has been decided that traders will not be paid commission for kits distributed through ration shops for Onam. The handling cost for kits distributed in May 2021 will be Rs.5 per kit.

Free kits were distributed for 13 months. Earlier, commission was given only for 2 month kits. The officials of All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers Association in their meeting with Finance Minister KN Balagopal demanded that Rs 15 per cardholder should be charged as service charge for Onam kit.

Commission up to one lakh

Food Minister GR Anil informed the Assembly that there are a total of 14,110 ration shops in the state who are getting a commission of up to Rs 1 lakh per month. According to the food department, there are 1275 shops that earn Rs 41,000 to Rs 50,000, 3344 shops that earn Rs 31,000 to Rs 40,000, 6654 shops that earn Rs 20,000-30,000 and 2068 shops that earn up to Rs 18,000.