Delay in wage package implementation, ration dealers warn of shop closures

The Kerala State Retail Ration Dealers Association (KSRRDA) has announced statewide protest programmes, including the closure of ration shops, warning of intensified agitation if the government fails to urgently resolve long-pending demands of ration dealers.

The KSRRDA state committee said it decided to escalate the agitation after the government failed to honour its assurance to implement a revised wage package within a year of its introduction seven years ago.

The association is also demanding that shortcomings in the Kerala Targeted Public Distribution System (KTPDS) Act be addressed. It also pointed out that a three-member committee appointed to study the wage revision submitted its report several months ago, but the Finance Department has yet to act on it.

KSRRDA state organising secretary N Shijeer said discussions were held in 2018 in the presence of the Chief Minister, during which the then Finance Minister held talks with association leaders. “In that meeting, it was decided that the supporting payment would be ₹18,000. That meant a dealer who sold 45 quintals would receive ₹8,500 from the government, along with ₹220 per quintal. This amount was paid at that time,” Shijeer told Onmanorama.

“Even then, we made it clear that an amount of around ₹1,000 would barely cover shop rent, the wages of a salesman and the licensee’s own labour. This scheme was being implemented for the first time in Kerala. The government assured us that it would be studied for a year and restructured accordingly. However, apart from assurances and letters, nothing was implemented,” he said.

Shijeer said the association was repeatedly told that the issue would be resolved “soon”. In 2023, the government constituted a three-member committee comprising the Controller of Civil Supplies, a vigilance officer and a law officer to examine the issues. The committee submitted its report in May 2024.

“Even after the end of 2025, nothing has moved forward. We are only told that the report has been forwarded to the Food Minister and the Finance Department and is under consideration. No concrete action has followed,” he said.

He said the prolonged delay has severely affected ration dealers as living costs and shop rents have increased sharply. “No salesman is willing to work for ₹300 or ₹400 anymore. This has created a serious crisis for ration dealers,” he said.

According to Shijeer, ministers continue to cite financial constraints whenever the association raises the issue. “They say there is a fiscal crunch and that arrangements are being worked out. We are repeatedly assured that the scheme will be implemented soon,” he said.

The association submitted another memorandum to Food Minister G R Anil on Monday. “He said he would look into it and again assured us that a solution would be found,” Shijeer said. However, he warned that if the government failed to act, the association would convene a state committee meeting in early January and launch direct protest programmes. “A shop closure strike will be the final stage. Before that, we will organise protests, including marches to the Secretariat,” he said. The KSRRDA state committee will meet in Thrissur on January 1 or 3 to finalise the agitation plans.