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Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Karnataka truck operators withdraw strike as govt releases pending dues under Anna Bhagya
The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association on Tuesday withdrew its indefinite strike call after the government said it released Rs 244 crore in dues pending for transport operators under the flagship Anna Bhagya scheme. 'The government has given us in writing that the dues will be cleared in the next two days. So we have decided to withdraw the strike,' said G R Shanmugappa, president of the federation. An order issued by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology, dated July 8, empowered the chief account officer of Bengaluru Urban zilla panchayat to release 244.1 crore in dues for truck operators. The protest, announced by the federation on Monday, had threatened to disrupt the supply of subsidised foodgrains to ration shops under the Congress government's scheme benefiting low-income families, potentially affecting food security in Karnataka. The truck operators had halted rice transportation under the scheme, citing unpaid dues of Rs 260 crore from February to June 2025. Shanmugappa had claimed that 3,500–4,000 drivers were affected, with some having pawned jewellery to meet fuel and other expenses and facing truck seizures by finance companies. The state government had promised payments to be made by June 19, but failed to clear the dues. Separately, the federation also demanded the rollback of the Rs 5/litre diesel hike, abolition of toll plazas on 18 highways in the state, return of Rs 25-Rs 30 crore tender deposits, cancellation of the Rs 15,000 renewal fee for older vehicles, and a 50 per cent discount on fines. The Opposition BJP has trained guns at the Congress government over the pending dues. Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said, 'The government has run out of money and they have no money to pay to the truck owners. The chief minister, deputy chief minister and the entire cabinet are busy saving their chairs. The government is dead and the people are waiting to throw them out.' Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More
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Business Standard
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Karnataka transporters strike over late dues; Anna Bhagya food supply hit
Transporters have stopped the supply of rice and foodgrains across Karnataka, throwing the state's flagship food security programme, 'Anna Bhagya', over unpaid dues stretching back six months, according to a report by The Hindu. The indefinite strike by the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association is expected to severely impact the delivery of subsidised grains to fair-price shops, directly affecting thousands of below-poverty-line (BPL) families reliant on the scheme. ₹30 cr dues pending, operations suspended On Monday, the federation announced a complete suspension of loading operations from the Food and Civil Supplies Corporation depots. The decision, Federation president G R Shanmugappa said, was driven by non-payment of transportation bills since February this year. 'We are unable to continue in this situation,' he said, adding that the operators could no longer absorb the financial pressure. According to the association, the state owes transporters nearly ₹30 crore. They also flagged the issue of earnest money deposits (EMD), where each transporter had to pay ₹4 lakh as part of the tender process. Additionally, many loaders employed under these contractors, many of whom rely entirely on this work, have reportedly not been paid for months. While a meeting was held between the transporters and state officials on June 19, with an assurance that dues would be cleared by July 5, no payments have materialised yet. The Federation has now appealed directly to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for urgent intervention. What is the Anna Bhagya scheme? The 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, a key pre-election promise of the Congress party, was implemented shortly after the party came to power in 2023. The scheme aims to tackle food insecurity by providing 10 kg of free rice per month to every member of BPL households. However, following the Centre's refusal to supply additional rice, the state modified the scheme, offering a direct benefit transfer (DBT) of ₹34 per kg for 10 kg per person. Despite the switch to DBT for the additional 5 kg, the base 5 kg per person under the National Food Security Act is still delivered as physical grain, reliant on the very transport operations now on hold. The scheme, implemented by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, plays a central role in Karnataka's welfare delivery. Beneficiaries include those holding BPL and Antyodaya Anna Yojana cards, with no limit on the number of eligible individuals per household. Food security at risk if strike persists If the deadlock continues, ration shops across the state could soon run dry, putting millions of low-income residents at risk of food insecurity. The government has yet to respond to the concerns raised.
New Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Karnataka truckers' indefinite strike likely to hit Anna Bhagya
BENGALURU: Anna Bhagya, one of the Congress government's ambitious schemes, is likely to be affected as truckers transporting rice for free distribution across the state launched an indefinite strike on Monday, seeking clearance of dues amounting to Rs 260 crore. GR Shanmugappa, president of the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association and Retail Transport Contractors' Association, said payments have not been made since February. Shanmugappa said, 'On June 19, CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar promised to clear truckers' dues before July 5. The dues have been accumulating and there is no sign of any settlement. From February to June, truckers have to be paid around Rs 260 crore.' Truck owners are in distress. They have borrowed money to meet transport expenses. They are now unable even to pay loan EMIs, and finance companies have started seizing their vehicles. Nearly 4,000 truckers have been affected, Shanmugappa said. He said truckers had transported around 25 lakh tonnes of rice for distribution across the state. Under Anna Bhagya scheme, the state government distributes 10kg rice per person from families under the Below Poverty Line (BPL). Shanmugappa said that he is not affiliated to any political party and he is not politicising the issue. 'I am with the truckers. I requested the government to settle their unpaid dues. Till that is done, truckers will not transport rice,' Shanmugappa said. Meanwhile, hamalis (labourers) involved in loading and unloading of rice alleged that their wages have not been paid.
NDTV
07-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Karnataka Lorry Owners Halt Food Grain Transportation Over Unpaid Dues
The Karnataka government is grappling with yet another financial crisis, as the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association has announced a complete halt in the transportation of rice and food grains meant for the Anna Bhagya Scheme. The decision comes in protest against non-payment of dues for the past six months. Federation president GR Shanmugappa, has claimed that lorry operators have not been paid since February for transporting food grains to ration shops under the Anna Bhagya Schemes one of the state's flagship guarantees. "We have reached a breaking point. Some of us are mortgaging jewellery to fill diesel. We are in deep financial distress and can't continue like this anymore," Mr Shanmugappa said. Starting 9 am today, the association has suspended all grain loading operations across the state. Mr Shanmugappa added that lorry owners who had participated in the government's tender process had each deposited 4 lakh rupees as Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), which is yet to be refunded adding up to nearly 25-30 crores. "Despite assurances given during a meeting with government officials on June 19, that payments would be cleared before July 5, nothing has happened. We have no option left but to stop all movement until our dues are paid and our loans cleared," he added. The association has appealed to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to understand their plight. This development comes just a day after the Chief Minister's economic advisor, Raya Reddy, stirred controversy by stating that people must choose between guarantee schemes and development projects due to budget constraints. "If you want an asphalt road or a school, understand that everything can't be done at once. You must decide. If you say, 'build roads', we'll build roads. If you say, 'build temples', we'll build only temples. We must manage within the funds available," Mr Reddy had said. With the lorry owners' strike threatening to disrupt the supply chain for the Anna Bhagya scheme, the government now faces mounting pressure to address the issue.
India Today
19-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Karnataka truckers give 15-day deadline over dues, Anna Bhagya delivery in limbo?
The Anna Bhagya scheme, one of the Karnataka Congress' five guarantee schemes announced in the 2023 assembly election manifesto, may face serious disruption starting July 5, with the state's food grain transporters threatening to halt operations over unpaid Karnataka State Public Distribution Food Grains Transport Contractors' Association has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the state government, demanding the release of Rs 250 crore in pending transportation payments that have been delayed for over four they don't pay up, let the officials and the government run the trucks,' warned Karnataka Lorry Owners' Association president GR Shanmugappa, indicating a complete shutdown of food grain movement if demands remain unmet. The association, which includes over 3,000 to 4,000 owner-cum-drivers, claims its members are under financial stress, struggling to pay Employee Provident Fund (EPF), Employees' State Insurance (ESI), and taxes. In addition to the unpaid dues, the group has also demanded the refund of Earnest Money Deposits (EMDs).The association has accused the government of ignoring repeated appeals and failing to act, forcing them to consider an indefinite is not the first time the Anna Bhagya scheme has run into challenges. Since July 1, 2023, the state government had been providing only 5 kg of rice instead of the promised 10 kg, after the Union government refused to supply rice under the Open Market Sale compensate, the Congress-led state government began disbursing Rs 170 per beneficiary per month via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), calculated at Rs 34 per kg. However, since February, with the Union government agreeing to sell rice at a fixed price till June, Karnataka decided to resume distributing rice instead of InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
