Ration dealers affiliated to the Kerala State Retail Ration Dealers’ Association downed the shutters on Monday in protest against certain provisions of the Food Security Bill.
D. Ambujakshan Nair, vice-president of the association, said the ration shops functioning in the city would remain closed on Tuesday also. The Bill would deny subsidised foodgrains to 40 per cent of the population and would destroy the statutory rationing system in the country.
He denied reports that the association was against computerisation.
Maintaining that the association was not against the Bill but only opposed to certain provisions that would hamper the interests of ration shop owners, Mr. Ambujakshan Nair said the government should consider paying a salary to the licence holders instead of providing commission.
Babychan Mukkadan, general secretary of the All-India Ration Dealers’ Association, said the dealers would stage a demonstration in front of the Secretariat on Friday.
