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Ration dealers up in arms over portability
Ration dealers are up in arms against provision of ‘portability’ introduced by the government recently. They have decided to hold bandh on June 26 and will be submitting strike notice demanding reversal of the decision and to address their long pending grievances regarding the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Hyderabad: Ration dealers are up in arms against provision of ‘portability’ introduced by the government recently. They have decided to hold bandh on June 26 and will be submitting strike notice demanding reversal of the decision and to address their long pending grievances regarding the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The Civil Supplies Department has introduced ‘ration portability’, in the beginning of June to help beneficiaries to avail the service from anywhere, as per their choice. The government also felt that it would increase competition among the dealers.
As an experimental basis, this concept was introduced in 1545 ration shops from June 1 in Greater Hyderabad range. However, the ration shop dealers opine that the distribution of beneficiaries would be disturbed due to the system and business of shops located in the interior areas would be affected as people will prefer Fair Price shops which are close to the main road or which are easily accessible.
They have decided to hold a bandh on June 26, followed by Chalo Delhi on July 18. If things do not change, we shall be holding an ‘indefinite strike' in August,” said V R Gupta, who represents one of the Associations of Ration Shops.
When contacted, department officials said ‘ration portability’ has been a successful concept, as it has achieved about 27,000 transactions in Core City. With this, people got the opportunity to choose their Fair Price shop for availing the benefit. It is being pointed out that several factors including the recent crackdown on benamis had irked the dealers.
“So far, we have identified about 400 benami dealers, after the crackdown began in the month of May. The impact was such that about 200 have resigned and about 70 dealers have applied for leave, which is not sanctioned,” said an official.
The Civil Supplies Commissioner C V Anand has instructed the officials to carry out inspections. Out of 1545 ration shops in Greater Hyderabad range, inspection was carried out in 545 shops in 25 days by May end. During these raids, it was found that benamis were conducting business in 146 ration shops. Criminal cases were booked on five dealers and 29 dealers were booked under 6A and other sections.
