Fri Jan 24 15:14:48 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Ration Dealers to Strike, Threatening Food Distribution System
**Thiruvananthapuram, January 24, 2025** – Kerala’s public distribution system faces imminent disruption as negotiations between the state government and ration dealers ended in a stalemate Friday. Dealers, who plan an indefinite strike beginning January 27th, are demanding a commission increase.
While the government pledged to address other concerns, the crucial demand for a higher commission was rejected, contingent upon a committee report and improved state finances. The Finance Minister’s reportedly brief attendance at the talks further fueled dealer frustration, with one committee member calling the government’s response a “farce.”
The situation is exacerbated by a pre-existing transport strike since January 1st, disrupting the supply of essential goods from the Food Corporation of India to ration outlets. This double whammy threatens widespread shortages of essential commodities across the state.
First Piper 