Ration Shops in Kerala to Close for Two Days Due to Strike

Discussions between the Food and Finance Ministers and ration shop traders have failed to resolve the traders’ hardships, leading to a 48-hour strike by the Ration Dealers Coordination State Committee on July 8th and 9th. The assembly meeting yielded no concrete solutions to the traders’ demands, prompting the announcement of the strike. The traders are demanding changes to the ration wage package and the Kerala Targeted Public Distribution System (KTPDS) Act, with an official committee’s report on these issues submitted on June 10th.

Minister G R Anil has been informed to present the report to the government on July 10th and has promised further discussions. Finance Minister KN Balagopal mentioned a tentative decision to collect Rs. 1 per month from non-priority cardholders for the Ration Trader Welfare Fund reform, pending detailed discussions. Additionally, the finance minister assured that commissions for food kits distributed during the COVID-19 period would be paid in installments as per the Supreme Court’s order, though he could not specify the number of installments, leading to an abrupt end to the meeting.