Ration dealers in Kozhikode district on Tuesday evening called off their day-long strike in protest against the row over weighing of goods meant for the door delivery system in Koyilandy taluk. Distribution of foodgrains and other commodities had been disrupted on the day as the ration shops remained closed.
More scrutiny
The strike followed a dispute between the dealers and the unloading labourers at the Karuvannur godown where commodities covered under the National Food Security Act are kept. Officials of Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation said it would be examined if the quantity of foodgrains being distributed to ration shops was weighed properly. Ration dealers and trade union leaders representing labourers said they would hold talks to discuss such issues so that it did not affect the distribution of commodities through ration shops.
It has been reported that functionaries of the Kerala State Retail Ration Dealers Association were roughed up by the labourers on Monday. Members of the association claimed that the incident happened after they staged a dharna in protest against the labourers who refused to weigh the goods before unloading them. They pointed out that weighing of the goods had been mandated by a High Court order. When the association leaders tried to enter the godown to talk to the officer in-charge there, they were beaten up by a group of labourers, it has been alleged. Two of the association leaders were hospitalised after the incident.
