With the festival season around the corner, a war of words is on as to whether the Civil Supplies Department has enough rations to distribute through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Ration dealers — the last link in the PDS chain — say that the department is reeling under stock shortage and is not prepared for Vishu. But State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob on Sunday sought to clear the air, saying that problems have been sorted out though there was some delay initially due to “fund shortage”.
“We had to settle our accounts with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) by this financial year-end. We could not pay in March and had to wait for the new budget provision in April. But we have resolved the problem,” Mr. Jacob told The Hindu over phone.
‘Rising demand’A statement released by the Kozhikode Jilla Ration Dealers Co-ordination Committee on April 9 alleges that ration supply to Kozhikode taluk is in crisis. “With the present stock, the demand of even 100 of the 320 retail ration outlets in Kozhikode taluk will not be met before the festive season. The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation depot at Vellayil here has not stocked provisions to meet the rising demand for Vishu and Easter. Supply of rice from the FCI has been erratic recently,” T. Mohammedali, State general secretary, All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers Association, said.
“Again, we have not been supplied with different varieties of rice under schemes such as Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme and for the Below Poverty Line category and the two varieties of rice – Rs.2 and Rs.8.9 – for the Above Poverty Line category,” he said.
‘Ready for Vishu’Mr. Jacob said there was a problem in stock in the civil supplies depots in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts. “There was a problem in stock shortage in civil supplies depots in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur. We had issues with the FCI delivery also. But that too has been sorted out,” he said.
He referred to the situation in the Vellayil depot, and said Kozhikode taluk was the last place among the four districts in which the problem of food stock and disbursal under the PDS was resolved. “We are ready for Vishu,” the Minister said.
“The Supplyco fair started eight days ago. Our staff are working round the clock and on holidays. This will continue till Easter. Besides, we will start fairs in schools towards the end of April,” Mr. Jacob said.
