KOLLAM: The joint protest council of ration dealers has warned to freeze its distribution network across the state alleging corruption.
They allege an “unholy nexus” between Supplyco officers and loading and transportation workers looting food grains at godowns. It has, in turn, affected the beneficiaries depending on these area ration dealers (ARD) for their monthly ration.
The state implemented the National Food Security Act in November 2016 followed by doorstep delivery in 2017 March.
However, Supplyco, the nodal agency supplying to the ARDs, has not yet implemented a mechanism to weigh and ensure the rightful quantity transported to the ARDs.
They say the retailers find a shortage of around 2 to 6 kg in a single bag.
“The discrepancies are combined result of corruption prevalent in Supplyco. The employees there in an unholy nexus with lorry contractors and loading workers jointly loot the food grains which directly affects the retailers. They are not given weight receipt at the time of delivery,” said A.A. Rahim, general convenor of the council. “Even holes are made in these bags to loot grains to the tune of several kilograms. Several instances of vigilance raids across the state have revealed illegal storage of food grains that are eventually sourced out to the black market.”
The shortage has affected ARDs which reflects on the share of beneficiaries. It forces retailers to purchase rice from the public market to compensate this shortage when distributed to the beneficiaries through e-POS machines.
At the same time, the retailers are also not getting their remuneration of Rs 16,000 per month as assured by the government. The Supplyco is also reluctant in providing leakage compensation of 1.4 kg per quintal, as per Food Security Act.
