Thiruvananthapuram: In a recent meeting, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) gave permission for the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation to increase prices for 13 essential goods provided by SupplyCo after the Navakerala Sadas. SupplyCo is raising the prices of essential goods after seven years, citing financial challenges. However, there is a parallel effort to reduce prices by at least Rs. 25 in the general market.
The price hikes will affect chickpeas, black gramme, red cow peas, cowpeas, peas, toor dal, chillies, coriander, coconut oil, Jaya rice, Kurua rice, Matta rice, and Raw rice. The LDF has delegated the responsibility to the Food Minister, GR Anil, to decide on the extent of the price hike.
The government owes a big amount of Rs. 1525 crore to SupplyCo because it got involved in the market. Meanwhile, SupplyCo has given the government two choices: either pay back the money owed or agree to raise prices.
The Food Minister aims to resolve the crisis, but Supplyco is worried that if the prices of subsidized goods go up, it might be hard to get back the Rs.1,525 crores the government owes, and it could also make it tougher for people to buy these items.
Minister Anil justifies the decision, stating that the LDF’s promise of no price hikes was part of an older manifesto. This recent adjustments follow increases in electricity tariffs, contributing to concerns over the public. The consecutive actions taken by the government are causing concerns about the difficulties experienced by the residents in the state.
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