Madurai: Under the Cooperative Department, only 50 kg of onions is being supplied to ration shops for 1,000 cardholders. Since each card gets only 50 grams, employees are struggling to manage.
Because onion production has declined, arrivals in the markets have also decreased. As a result, the prices of both small onions and big onions have risen. Small onions are being sold at Rs. 110 to Rs. 120 per kg. Therefore, as people are using more big onions, demand for them has also increased.
As a result, people have been forced to buy it at higher prices in the open market. Therefore, onions are being distributed at ration shops. However, since the supply is limited, employees are struggling to distribute it properly.
Regarding this, family cardholders said, “In the open market, one kilogram is sold for Rs. 65. In ration shops, it is sold for Rs. 35. For 1,000 ration cardholders, only 50 kilograms are being supplied. That works out to just 50 grams per card. When one kilogram is given per card, the remaining 950 people do not get any. Therefore, quality onions should be supplied in a way that everyone with a family card can get them,” he said.
Regarding this, officials from the Cooperative Department said, “In Madurai district, there are 1,409 ration shops in villages and urban areas through the Cooperative Department. Of these, we have supplied only 30 tonnes of onions per month to the 481 shops in urban areas. Last September, we supplied 120 tonnes of onions across the district. Whatever quantity the government provides, we divide it shop-wise and send it out.
Since demand has increased, after Vijayadashami we plan to supply the shops in rural areas. Because only limited quantities are being supplied, employees are under a lot of pressure,” they said.