The Hindu : Kerala News : Steps to tackle traders' stir

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Tuesday, Apr 05, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Steps to tackle traders' stir

By Our Staff Reporter

PERAMANGALAM (THRISSUR), APRIL 4. The Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Adoor Prakash, has said that though the Government is not for a confrontation with traders, adequate steps will be taken to ensure the supply of essential commodities if they go ahead with their agitation plan.

The Minister, who was here today to inaugurate a Supplyco Sabari Store, told presspersons that the Government had already started collecting stock for distribution through the public distribution system (PDS) in the State in case of an emergency.

The State-owned Civil Supplies Corporation has 1,120 Maveli stores in the State. Also, the Government has decided to give sanction to start Sabari stores in most of the ration shops in the State so that they could sell grocery and consumer goods. The Government has received nearly 3,000 applications for starting Sabari stores and sanction has been given to 1,600.

The Sabari stores will be selling grocery at a higher price than the Maveli stores as goods are sold in a packaged form there. The Civil Supplies Corporation will bear the responsibility of purchasing and reaching the items to the Sabari stores.

According to him, the starting of Sabari shops and other steps haves contributed significantly to reinvigorating the PDS network. The Central Government is also supporting the State in this regard by agreeing to favourably consider proposals for sanctioning STD booths and LPG agencies in PDS shops.

Impropriety

Earlier in his inaugural address, the Minister said there had been some impropriety in sanctioning Sabari stores in the State. The Government's idea was to start Sabari stores in interior areas, unlike the Maveli stores which are located mostly at panchayat headquarters. But some officials had sanctioned Sabari stores without following the spirit of the Government orders.

The Minister said he would not cancel the already sanctioned Sabari stores. But in the second phase, Sabari shops will be sanctioned in areas where they are genuinely required. The opinions of people's representatives will be given due consideration.

Referring to the recent allegations of corruption against him, the Minister said the allegations were levelled by those who wanted the Civil Supplies Corporation to buy articles for sales through its outlets, at higher rates. The Corporation has stopped buying items at higher rates and started purchase at rates lower than the market rates. The Corporation earned a profit of Rs.4.65 crores during the last six months. The Government has announced its willingness for an inquiry by a sitting judge into the issue. This will be communicated to the High Court soon, the Minister said.

The Kunnamkulam MLA, T. V. Chandramohan, presided.

The district panchayat member C. V. Kuriakkose; the State secretary of the All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers' Association, Sebastian Choondal; and the Regional Manager of the Civil Supplies Corporation, Parameswaranunni; were among those who spoke on the occasion.

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