Latest news with #Shanmugappa
India Today
09-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Karnataka truckers end strike after state orders release of Rs 244 crore dues
The Karnataka government has issued an official order releasing Rs 244.1 crore to lorry association towards pending dues connected with the Anna Bhagya food grain distribution scheme. The amount covers transportation charges for the period between February and May 2025. Following the government's decision, the lorry association has called off its strike and resumed grain transportation under Karnataka's Anna Bhagya Guarantee Scheme had come to a standstill on July 7, with lorry owners halting operations across the state in protest over non-payment of dues by the government. The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association and the Karnataka State Public Distribution Food Grains Transport Contractors' Association alleged that the state had failed to clear outstanding payments of over Rs 260 crore since Shanmugappa, president of both associations, said the lorry operators had transported nearly 25 lakh tonnes of rice under the scheme from February to June but had not received any payment. On Jun 19, the contractors had issued a 15-day ultimatum, warning of an indefinite strike if the dues were not cleared. They had also demanded that their Earnest Money Deposits be refunded and flagged their financial distress, stating that many owner-drivers were struggling to pay Employee Provident Fund, Employees' State Insurance and taxes. Despite repeated appeals, the associations claimed the government had failed to act, forcing them to stop lorry strike threatened to severely disrupt the Anna Bhagya scheme, one of the Congress party's five flagship guarantees announced ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. The scheme has already faced multiple setbacks. Since July 1, 2023, the government had reduced the monthly rice allocation from 10 kilograms to 5 kilograms after the Union government declined to provide rice under the Open Market Sale response, the state had begun direct cash transfers of Rs 170 per beneficiary, calculated at Rs 34 per kilogram. However, when the Union government later agreed to sell rice at a fixed price until June 2025, Karnataka resumed distributing rice in kind instead of cash. - Ends IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Lorry owners call off strike after Karnataka clears pending Anna Bhagya dues
The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association has officially withdrawn its indefinite strike following the Karnataka government's decision to clear pending dues related to the Anna Bhagya scheme. The strike, launched on Monday, had brought the transportation of rice and foodgrains across the State to a halt. The association had cited non-payment of bills for over six months as the primary reason for the protest. However, on Tuesday, the State government issued an order releasing ₹244.1 crore towards incidental expenses including transportation charges for the period between February and May 2025. Federation president G.R. Shanmugappa welcomed the move and announced the withdrawal of the strike, stating that the government had responded positively to their demands. 'The government has promised us that all pending dues will be settled within 48 hours. Accordingly, our members have decided to resume transport services with immediate effect,' said Mr. Shanmugappa. He further added that the State has also promised to refund the earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹26 crore, paid by lorry owners during the tendering process, within four days. Earlier, the federation had expressed frustration over the non-payment for foodgrain transportation services provided under the Anna Bhagya programme since February. Anna Bhagya, one of the Congress government's flagship welfare initiatives, offers free rice to eligible families and is a critical part of its five key guarantee schemes announced after coming to power in 2023.
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
India Today
08-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Karnataka truckers halt Anna Bhagya guarantee rice supply over Rs 260 crore dues
Food grain transportation under Karnataka's Anna Bhagya Guarantee Scheme came to a standstill on July 7, with lorry owners halting operations statewide in protest over non-payment of dues by the government. The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association and the Karnataka State Public Distribution Food Grains Transport Contractors' Association have alleged that the state has failed to clear outstanding payments of over Rs 260 crore since Shanmugappa, president of both associations, said they had transported nearly 25 lakh tonnes of rice under the scheme from February to June, but have not received any payments. 'The government says they have no money to pay us. In fact, to participate in the tender, we deposit money and our money is still with the government,' he said. 'Every time we request, they give different dates and tell us the government has no money. We are not going to transport rice anymore and we are not responsible for this anymore.'The contractors had earlier issued a 15-day ultimatum on June 19, warning of an indefinite strike if Rs 260 crore in dues were not cleared. They also demanded that Earnest Money Deposits be refunded and pointed to their financial distress, with many owner-drivers struggling to pay Employee Provident Fund, Employees' State Insurance and taxes. Despite repeated appeals, the association claimed the government had not taken any action, forcing them to stop Congress legislator RV Deshpande acknowledged the delay but criticised the strike. 'There is a slight delay in the payment to the lorry owners. They have been working with the government for years now. But they can't paralyse the whole system. Small children are the final consumer of this rice,' he MP Basavaraj Bommai criticised the Congress-led government over the crisis, saying, 'This government has gone bankrupt and people are fighting for the chair.'Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanswamy, said, "This government is an empty vessel, no money for development or guarantees. Just Rs 56,000 crores is kept for guarantees. What about the rest of the budget? AICC is taking money from Karnataka and now Bihar elections is coming and Congress party, sending money to Bihar."The ongoing strike threatens to severely disrupt the Anna Bhagya scheme, one of the five flagship guarantees of the Congress party, announced ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. The scheme has already faced difficulties. Since July 1, 2023, the government had been providing only 5 kg of rice instead of the promised 10 kg after the Union government declined to supply rice under the Open Market Sale compensate, the state began direct cash transfers of Rs 170 per beneficiary, calculated at Rs 34 per kg. However, with the Union government later agreeing to sell rice at a fixed price until June this year, Karnataka resumed distributing rice instead of cash. Now, with the transport network halted, the scheme faces renewed uncertainty.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
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.
