THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Most outlets have run out of subsidized items except rice. People have stopped going to outlets including Maveli stores. With this, the daily turnover of Supplyco has fallen sharply. Average turnover fell to Rs 3.36 crore on Thursday from Rs 10 crore. The daily turnover was Rs 15 crore during Onam. The government has to intervene urgently, as the very existence in danger is now. The government has to pay 1525 crores in arrears alone.

Suppliers are owed dues from last May in terms of the purchase of food products. 576.38 crore is to be paid to the suppliers. The supply of subsidized goods has stopped because of this. 146.61 crore rupees is to be received from the price of rice alone for the mid-day meal scheme in schools. Supplyco had asked the government for an emergency assistance of Rs 200 crore to pay its suppliers for Onam. The government had sanctioned 140 crores in two instalments. Onam fairs were held with this amount.

Over before Onam

The stock of dried red chilly was over before Onam. The arrival of 800 tonnes of chillies, which were bought monthly from Andhra, has stopped. The sale of 150 tonnes of chilli bought exclusively for Onam ended when the outlets ran out of stock. A quarter kilo of chillies was given as a subsidy instead of one kilo during Onam. 1000 tonnes of Pigeon peas bought per month has dropped to 500 tonnes this month. Subsidy sugar has run out in most places. 60 crores are to be paid to suppliers in Karnataka and Maharashtra states for buying sugar alone. Mung bean, black gram, moong dal etc are also not available.

Promise will be broken

The main promise in the LDF manifesto for 2016 and 2021 was that there would be no increase in the prices of essential commodities for five years. The government benefitted from following it as well. However, the condition of not getting subsidized goods from Supplyco when the market price rises means that the promise is effectively broken.

Customers- 65 lakhs

Outlets- 1630

Regional Offices- 5

Depots -56