In its bid to get an “assured market,” the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) is negotiating with the AP State Civil Supply Corporation (APSCSC) to strike a deal for supply of tamarind and other items for the BPL families.
As of now, the talks have evoked a positive response. The GCC has informed the APSCSC that they are in a position to supply 12.5 lakh kg tamarind, 6.64 lakh packets of turmeric each containing 100 gm, and 2.86 lakh sachets of chilli powder, each 200 gm. These stocks can be supplied up to February 28.
“We won’t mind supplying more if we are informed in advance. The price negotiation is yet to take place. We have offered to supply these products at the price we supply to the distributors,” GCC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director E. Ramesh Kumar told The Hindu on Thursday. The State government launched ‘Mana Biyyam’ scheme for white cardholders on Wednesday by supplying good quality rice at Re. 1 a kg. In the next phase, the government will supply dal, oil, and other provisions in a combo pack to all the BPL families under the Public Distribution System.
The GCC, which was set up over five decades ago to procure minor forest produce and other products from the Girijans to prevent their exploitation by the middlemen, has now decided to adopt an aggressive marketing policy to increase the intake and offer better procurement price to the Girijans by widening its reach. The corporation has already entered into an agreement with the Navy for supply of various products – mainly the most sought-after aloe vera soaps, rajma, white beans, and honey under the brand name ‘Girijan’.
“We have set up four depots at the Navy here and are in the process of supplying our products to the Army across the country from February,” Dr. Ramesh Kumar said.
As a proactive measure, the GCC has launched free home delivery of various products. “We will deliver various items from the nearest distribution point on receipt of SMS to 9490166280,” he said.
Various products such as honey, tamarind, amla, sheekakai powder, soap nut powder, aloe vera, turmeric powder, and neem soaps will be available for door delivery.
