Kerala - Kollam   

`Strengthen PDS to control price rise'

Staff Reporter

UPA Government bid to weaken PDS alleged

KOLLAM: The town north branch of the Kerala NGO Union has called upon the Government to control price rise by strengthening the public distribution system.

A branch convention here on Thursday alleged that the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre was trying to weaken the public distribution system in violation of the Common Minimum Programme.

The convention alleged that the Centre was pursuing a wrong food policy. As a result, an artificial scarcity was being created in order to facilitate imports. NGO Union State president V.M. Pavithran inaugurated the convention.

A strong protest was registered against the Central "move" to replace the existing "model pension scheme" with the contributory pension scheme.

In the larger interests of social security, the existing pension system should be retained. The convention decided to ensure the victory of the demonstrations organised at district and taluk levels under the banner of the Federation of State Employees and Teachers Organisations in protest against the Centre's approach with regard to the pension scheme. The convention elected V. Aloysius as president.

Paltry amount

DCC president Kadavur Sivadasan alleged that the Rs.30 crore allocation to the Civil Supplies Corporation was a paltry amount which could hardly serve to bring down prices of essential commodities.

He wanted the Government to allocate at least Rs.100 crore for the purpose.

He alleged that the Government announcement of opening 3,814 cooperative outlets to distribute essential commodities at fair prices was nothing but a ruse.

Already there were hundreds of cooperative outlets distributing essential commodities. But these did not have sufficient stocks and were not functioning properly.

Mr. Sivadasan said this while inaugurating a protest demonstration organised by the NGO Association at the Press Club Maidan on Thursday.

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