Chennai, Oct 19:
The Tamil Nadu government has announced an incentive of Rs 2 for every kilogram of onions sold by workers at cooperative-run fair price shops. The measure is intended to compensate employees for the additional workload involved in handling onion sales as part of the government’s efforts to control rising prices in the open market.
According to an order issued by Registrar of Cooperative Societies Latha, the incentive will be calculated based on the quantity of onions sold by each worker. The amount will be credited directly to the workers’ bank accounts through the Electronic Clearing Service (ECS).
The government has procured onions in three phases through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF). The produce is being sold through cooperative society-run ration shops to ensure that consumers can purchase quality onions at affordable prices.
Ration shop employees have been entrusted with several additional responsibilities, including receiving and storing the onions, sorting the produce, weighing it for customers and maintaining sales records. The incentive is intended to recognise their additional work in implementing the price-control initiative.
The government has also planned to sell around 700 tonnes of onions through ration shops in the third phase of the programme. By expanding subsidised sales through the cooperative network, the State aims to improve access to essential commodities while easing the burden on households affected by fluctuations in vegetable prices.