Ration dealers in the State will observe a shut-down strike on February 8 in order to urge the State government to provide minimum wages.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, All India Ration Dealers' Association general secretary Babychen Mukkadan said that a mass hunger strike would also be observed in front of the Secretariat.
The demands of the ration dealers include ensuring minimum wages, an increase in salary and the immediate distribution of Rs. 20 crore on account of arrears by the government.
Mr. Mukkadan also called upon the government to adopt measures to process the nearly 2.5 lakh pending applications for ration cards that have been filed at the various supply offices in the State.
He also warned that the joint strike council has decided to launch an indefinite strike from March 1 onwards if the government continues to be apathetic towards the demands of the dealers.
Supply of ration items will be disrupted as part of the agitation.
