Ration dealers demand priority in vaccination
The Hindu
‘Procedures at shops constantly expose them to the risk of infection’
Over 14,200 ration dealers, who serve 90.45 lakh card holders across the State, have demanded that they be considered ‘frontline warriors’ in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and allotted vaccine on priority basis. “Ration licensees and sales personnel are constantly exposed to danger because they are continuously in contact with people who come to take delivery of their supplies,” said B. Rahuleyan, Cherthala taluk secretary of the Kerala State Retail Ration Dealers’ Association. The demand for priority vaccination has been raised with the State authorities, he said, as he pointed out that the government had not considered their plea so far.The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.