Ration dealers' strike; Minister hold talks, protest committee to take decision today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Food and Civil Supplies Minister, GR Anil, said that the procedures have begun to pay monthly commission to ration dealers, in the meeting held yesterday. The protest committee of the combined unions of ration dealers are yet to take a decision on whether or not to withdraw from the strike planned from tomorrow onwards.

They will convey a meeting today to take a decision regarding this.

The Minister have not given a clear reply on the question of when the payment for October will be given. The protest committee convener, Muhammadali, said that a written order on releasing fund must be shown.

The minister sat down for talks after the ration dealers declared strike when the government decided to slash their commission. The minister accepted the protest committee’s demand not to execute the order to cut the commission in October. There was a dent in the funds and that is why the commission was slashed.

This year the government had allocated Rs.216 crores as commission to ration dealers. However, the government did not allocate the commission to be given as commission in the distribution of central governments food grains under PMGKY, in the budget.

The state government failed to see this expenditure because the center had decided to extend the program till December only in August. To give the extra amount as commission, the finance department must provide that money. The minister said that the food department has requested the finance department to release the fund.

The protest committee said that they need an assurance in the form of a written order and added that they are not ready to be fooled again.