THRISSUR: Retail ration dealers who demanded exact quantity of food grains from the wholesale godowns as a part of implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) have revealed that even after the much-acclaimed Act to prevent corruption, the diversion of supply from godowns to private mills is not going to end. All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers’ Association (AKRRDA) collected grains for their retails shops last week from the private wholesale dealer T. A. Jose Company Nadathara.
They said though the AKRRDA had decided earlier to demand exact quantity of food grains as per the list prepared by the taluk supply officer (TSO) only a few of the 45 retailers sought the exact amount from the godown concerned. “But, as we demanded exact quantity, the godown owner asked Rs 12 from us to load a quintal of rice to the vehicle and for those who are not keen on the amount, paid the old rate of Rs 6,” a retailer associated with AKRRDA said. Such manipulation in the volume of food grains and their diversion from wholesale godowns to private mills had been the cause of corruption in the PDS system across the country.
The retailers said unless there was a reliable mechanism to ensure the quantity of food grains reaching retail shops from godowns, the NFSA which would be fully implemented next financial year, would not yield the desired result. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, TSO P.R. Jayachandran said the retailers had been told to collect exact quantities from the wholesalers or else stringent action would be taken against them.
