Bengaluru: The indefinite strike by rice truck operators supplying under the Anna Bhagya scheme was called off late Tuesday evening after the Karnataka government initiated the release of ₹244.22 crore out of the pending ₹260 crore dues to truck owners.
The strike, which began Monday, was led by the Karnataka State Truck Owners’ Federation, citing non-payment of dues for over five months. Despite earlier assurances from Food Minister K.H. Muniyappa promising payment within two days, the truckers remained firm, refusing to resume services until the funds were deposited in their bank accounts.
As the standoff affected rice dispatches from FCI godowns to public distribution society (PDS) outlets, especially in rural and low-income urban areas, the government rushed to prevent a disruption in essential supplies. The Finance Department gave the green signal to release ₹244.22 crore immediately.
Also Read: Statewide PDS Supply Disrupted as Lorry Owners Protest Rs 260 Crore Dues from Karnataka Government
Following this, Federation President G.R. Shanmugappa instructed truckers to withdraw the strike and resume rice transport operations to PDS outlets across the state.
The development marks a temporary resolution, as truck owners await the final ₹15.78 crore to be disbursed. However, with this partial release, the rice delivery chain under Anna Bhagya, which had come to a halt, is expected to return to normal from Wednesday.
The government’s move comes after mounting pressure and potential risk to food security for lakhs of BPL families, especially as the scheme forms a key welfare initiative in Karnataka.
