The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents’ Association has officially withdrawn its indefinite strike following the Karnataka government’s decision to clear pending dues related to the Anna Bhagya scheme.
| Photo Credit: LAKSHMI NARAYANAN E
The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents’ Association has officially withdrawn its indefinite strike following the Karnataka government’s decision to clear pending dues related to the Anna Bhagya scheme.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.
Published – July 09, 2025 03:15 am IST
