The All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers’ Association has come out strongly against the Centre’s decision to slash the State’s quota of ration drastically from this April.
In a press conference here on Friday, the association office-bearers said the decision would be a bolt from the blue for over 60-lakh Above Poverty Line (APL) card holders, who would get only half of what they used to get from the ration shops following the decision.
If an APL card holder had been receiving 10 kg of rice and one kg of wheat every month, they would now get only 5 kg of rice from April.
“This would be a major shock and disappointment for the common man, especially in the festival season of Vishu and Easter,” said T. Muhammadali, State general secretary of the association. The unexpected cut would trigger rise in the price of rice in the open market, he said.
The BPL card holders will get 5 kg of wheat and 17 kg of rice.
The association said the special quota of 1 kg sugar promised for Easter and Vishu (given during the festival seasons) was given this time only to the BPL and AAY card holders in a clear shift from tradition.
