Image for representational purpose only.
Image for representational purpose only.

After talks, ration dealers withdraw indefinite strike in Kollam

The three-day-old indefinite strike launched by the ration dealers demanding the government to address their grievances was withdrawn.

KOLLAM: The three-day-old indefinite strike launched by the ration dealers demanding the government to address their grievances regarding the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) was withdrawn on Wednesday.


The decision came after a meeting they had with Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac and Food and Civil Supplies Minister P Thilothaman, the other day.

While the ration dealers claim the ministers had accepted their demands ‘in principle’, the officers in the Civil Supplies Department said a final call will be made only after consulting the Chief Minister.

 
The ration dealers claimed the minister gave an assurance all the issues raised by them will be resolved before May 20.

Meanwhile, leaders of the All India Ration Dealers Association and All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers Association said they will launch an indefinite strike from June 1 if the government failed to keep its word. 


“We decided to postpone our strike based on the assurance given by the two ministers. We had presented a clear picture of the sad state of affairs in the public distribution sector before the ministers. The pilot project for the delivery of PDS items at the doorstep of ration shops launched in Kollam district was a failure as the department failed to comply with the guidelines laid down under the NFSA. 


Our demands include incentives for ration dealers, implementation of NFSA in letter and spirit and withdrawal of the move to reduce the number of ration shops in the state on the basis of grading,” said Babychan Mukkadan, national general secretary, All India Ration Dealers Association. Meanwhile, a section of the ration dealers alleged the chinks in the Left front armour had delayed a decision on addressing their grievances.


“As the Minister for Civil Supplies belongs to the CPI, the Chief Minister might have some difficulty in accepting his suggestions. Let us see how the situation develops,” said a ration dealer.


Meanwhile, All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers Association treasurer E Aboobacker Haji alleged the implementation of the pilot project of doorstep delivery programme, an important component of the NFSA, was faulty. He said the nexus between the officers and agents had derailed the pilot project of the scheme in Kollam district. 


The ration dealers had asked the government to give necessary instructions to the authorities concerned regarding the correct measurement of food grains being distributed to the ration shops, but they refused to provide the details, he said.

“The agent - officer nexus had played a role in derailing the doorstep delivery programme in the district. The slow pace of implementation was for helping the hoarders,” said Aboobacker Haji. 

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