Alappuzha: Supplyco has withdrawn its decision to dispense gold coins as a gift for the officials who led the distribution of free Onam kits in the state. The corporation stepped back from its plan on account of the protests raised by a section of ration dealers and Supplyco staff. 

Supplyco had decided to give away 1 gram gold each for the Supplyco regional manager and assistant regional manager while dispensing half gram gold for the depot manager on Friday along with distributing prizes for the winners of Onam contests conducted by the corporation. In view of the controversies, Supplyco issued an order to give away prizes only for the contest winners. 

Even the leftist ration dealers’ unions protested against the decision to dispense gold to officers while the government has not given away the commission amount for the ration dealers for distributing food kits during Covid induced lockdown. 

The government has not yet paid the commission worth Rs 55 crore to the ration dealers citing the financial crisis. Though the ration dealers obtained a favourable order from the Kerala High Court, the government has failed to issue the commission amount. 

Meanwhile, the Supplyco staff protested against the gold distribution for neglecting the efforts of temporary staff and ground level workers for timely distributing the Onam kits.