THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers’ Association (AKRRDA) on Tuesday launched a two-day fast in the capital raising various issues such as delay in implementing the salary package for the dealers and shortage of quantity of rationed items supplied to them for distribution.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the first day’s fast at the Martyrs Column here. K Muraleedharan MLA will inaugurate the second day’s fast on Wednesday. On the first day, ration dealers from northern districts participated in the fast. On Tuesday, the dealers from other districts will participate in the fast.
Stating that the fast was a precursor to an indefinite strike that is being planned in the coming days, AKRRDA president Johny Nellore said one of their demands is to implement the salary package that was promised by the government. “In a meeting held on May 31, the Chief Minister had promised to implement the package from June 1. Later, it was said the package will be brought out in July. But till now, nothing concrete has come out,’’ he said.
Apart from this, the shortage in quantity of rationed items supplied for distribution as part of the door delivery of ration is a big issue. “In one quintal of ration supply, there is always a shortage of 7 to 8 kg. This is a major issue and the dealers are facing a huge loss,’’ he said and added it was for the government to ensure the right quantity of supplies.Nellore said the proposed Electronic Point of Sale (E-Pos) in all ration shops has not been installed till now. It is for the government to install it and not the ration shops, he said.