Allegations of middlemen selling subsidised Onions at higher prices in Thrissur

Pattikkad (Thrissur): There are growing concerns that middlemen are selling onions at inflated prices, despite the central government providing it at subsidised rate of Rs 35 per kilogram.

In Pananchery panchayat, onions are stored in a godown rented from the agricultural storage centre. The intended process is to package the onions in 1-kilogram bags for distribution to the public. However, it is alleged that this procedure is not being followed, and instead, the onions are being sold directly to vegetable vendors. A similar issue has been reported in Mannuthy, where onions are being distributed in a vehicle.

The central government supplies onions to public markets through agencies such as NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd.), with the onions kept in storage for sorting. However, distribution has not yet begun in any part of the panchayat.

Complaints have emerged that large quantities of onions are being sold to private vegetable vendors instead of being made available to the public. Following these complaints, distribution of onions occurred in parts of the panchayat on Tuesday.

Officials have stated that onions will be distributed based on public demand in various areas of the panchayat. They also mentioned that, in addition to selling onions to the public at retail prices, there is a provision for supplying them to wholesalers to help control market prices.