THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has raised the cost of ration items in order to raise the wage of ration shop owners. Additional cost will be charged for free civil supplies. The cost of rice given to APL customers was raised to Rs 2 from Rs 1. The cost of wheat and atta also will be increased. The cost of ration supplies have been increased by Rs. 1 for every customer who does not belong to the Anthyodaya-Annayojana category. Customers of APL category will now have to pay Rs 11 for the rice allotted.

Ration shop owners had approached the government alleging that the commission package given by the government is very low. The government may have to find Rs 78.80 Cr. for the new package. The government aims to find this amount from the customers.

The commission amount that the shop owner had received during the tenure of previous government was Rs 100. This was increased to Rs. 200 when Pinarayi government came into power. Ration supply was made transparent by introducing e-pos machines. Action was taken against some shopkeepers for performing misconduct. Shopkeerpers decided to stage a strike following this.

The commission package was announced by the government on 2017 November 8th. The commission was raised to Rs 220. Minimum wage for the ration shops was increased to Rs. 16,000.New package was announced following the protests after this.