THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The public distribution system (PDS) in the district may get a big jolt if the issues which are plaguing the smooth functioning of two Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns are not tackled in time.It is alleged that transportation of food grains which are stored at Kazhakkoottam and Valiyathura depots is being delayed indefinitely owing to labour issues and technical defect of the weighing bridge.The food grains are usually lifted from the depots and transferred to authorised wholesale dealers in the district.The loads include food grains for the PDS and rice for MDMS (mid-day meal scheme) along with wheat distributed to private mills under Open Sale Scheme. It is this supply chain which is getting some serious bashing, with the recent hiccups in the depot being attributed to technical defects of the weighing machine.According to officials in the Food and Civil Supplies Department, the distribution of grains had suffered during Onam season also. At that time, it was a labour issue which arose after the management declined the request of the labourers to pay them salary two days early. Protesting against this act, the workers went on a strike, paralysing movement of the load.Later, this issue was settled and the labourers resumed their work. Next was the turn of the private lorry drivers, who went on strike demanding a better pay. As a result, even the prestigious project of the government, ‘Rice for one rupee’, had lost its charm for a while.On condition of anonymity, a highly-placed official in the department agreed that the lethargy exhibited by FCI officials was turning detrimental to the public distribution system. He said that only 80 loads of grains are being lifted daily in contrast to the 100-120 loads a few months before.Out of the 80 loads, normally half would be reserved for the mid-day meal scheme and private mills. The rest alone is distributed to the dealers.Speaking to Express, Taluk Supply Officer B Vijayakumar said that the delay in distributing grains would affect the supply to the retail dealers in the coming months. According to norms, the load should be collected by the dealers before the 20th of every month. Otherwise, an extension of the date should be obtained.“During this month, there were eight government holidays plus wagon clearance on four days. On the clearance day, lifting will not be allowed. The labourers will be involved in unloading the grains from the wagon. We are afraid whether this mess would affect the supply during the next month,” he said.Chala Mohanan, vice-president of Wholesale Ration Dealers’ Association, said that the delay in transporting the grains has begun to affect wholesale dealers. “This will affect the retail dealers and finally the public,” he said.But Dileep Kumar, Area Manager of FCI, offered an altogether version. He said that the weighing bridge would be repaired in a day or two.The last date for lifting of grains would be extended further. “Everything should return to normal state by Wednesday,” he said.
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