Ration committee report set off backlash; ration sellers’ reject suggestions

A examine ready by a committee appointed by the Meals and Civil Provides division, which recommends the closure of practically 4,000 ration retailers as a method for rising sellers’ commissions, has sparked criticism.

Ration sellers’ organisations have condemned the proposals as inhumane and have urged the federal government to chorus by implementing the suggestions.

The report, submitted in April 2024, emerged within the public area, practically a yr after it had been submitted to the division. The committee, chaired by former Controller of Rationing Manoj Kumar Ok., was tasked with reviewing numerous facets of the Nationwide Meals Safety Act, 2013, and different points together with the revision of wages for ration sellers and the general administration of ration retailers.

Important disparity

One of many key suggestions made by the committee was to restrict the variety of authorised retail sellers (ARD) to 10,000. Whereas the examine recorded 13,872 retailers, the present determine stands at 13,893 (excluding retailers run by companies corresponding to cooperative societies and Kudumbasree items). The report additionally highlighted a big disparity within the distribution of ration retailers throughout the State, with southern districts having a disproportionately greater variety of retailers in comparison with the north.

The committee’s evaluation discovered that 11,713 ARDs had been receiving month-to-month commissions above ₹18,000, whereas 973 retailers had been making lower than ₹15,000. Furthermore, 85 retailers had a ration off-take beneath 15 quintals a month. These included 22 outlets in Idukki, 19 in Pathanamthitta, and 11 every in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. The committee really useful the closure of those retailers.

All Kerala Retail Ration Sellers’ Affiliation criticised the federal government’s strategy, arguing it will have an effect on a number of ration sellers, notably those that are already struggling to make ends meet.

It additionally questioned the hypocrisy of such measures, drawing comparisons to the continued assist for a number of anganwadis, which cater to solely a small variety of youngsters however nonetheless obtain authorities support. The affiliation additionally known as for a complete examine earlier than any new outlets are opened.

The committee additionally proposed a number of measures aimed toward optimising the operation of ration outlets. These embrace making certain that every store serves no less than 800 ration cardholders and merging a number of retailers operated by the identical licensees. The opposite proposals embrace rising the retail value of rice for non-priority subsidy beneficiaries from ₹4 to ₹6 per kg. The worth hike is anticipated to generate a further income of ₹3.14 crore.