The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) has directed its depot managers to focus on enhancing the sale of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) or packaged goods than essentials. At a meeting of depot managers, the corporation is understood to have specified that the sale of FMCG along with Sabari products, its own brand, should together constitute 80 per cent of the sales volume. This will, in effect, reduce the sale of subsidised goods to mere 20 per cent.
Corporation sources told The Hindu here that the undue importance on increasing the sale of packaged goods went against the cardinal market intervention strategy of the corporation to sell essential commodities at affordable rates to bridle inflation.
For instance, Sabari coconut oil, sugar, pulses, and grains were being sold through its outlets when their prices soared in the open market and were in demand among consumers. The corporation had been played a pivotal role in containing inflation and such efforts had won encomiums too. Of late, there had been complaints that the supply of sugar, coconut oil, and such other commodities had virtually dried up. This had fuelled price rise. The meeting had asked the depot managing committees comprising three members, against recommending the procurement of goods that did not offer 30 to 32 per cent margin to the corporation.
