(Image source from: Siasat.com)

Ration Dealers Slam KCR’s New Proposal:- Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s proposal to bring in direct benefit transfer (DBT) model in place of ration shops, has been slammed by the ration dealers in Telangana. They have further threatened to go to court as per a report in a leading news paper.

More than 40,000 families have been dependent on ration shops for their livelihood, for over four decades, argued the dealers and this move would affect them adversely. To chalk out a strategy to counter the government’s proposed move against ration dealers, a public meeting will be held on October 27. From November 1, a “ration bandh” is also proposed to be held.

Nayi Koti Raju, President of the Telangana Ration Shop Dealers Association, told a leading news paper, “If the state government does not withdraw its proposal to replace Public Distribution System (PDS) with DBT, we will intensify our agitation. CM KCR should consider our demands on humanitarian grounds. We are not getting any revenue and are hardly earning Rs 3,000 per month.”

Association leader Sanjeev Reddy said after being made to run around offices of government officials for the last three years, “the fair price shop dealers have decided not to sell rice and kerosene through ration shops from November 1”.

Monthly honorarium of Rs 35,000 in villages, Rs 40,000 in mandal headquarters, Rs 50,000 in municipalities and Rs 60,000 per month in GHMC limits, were the demands of Telangana ration dealers.

Though commission is Rs 70 per quintal, they have not been paid by the state government, contended the dealers, due to which their arrears have accumulated to nearly Rs 40,000 crore, the report adds.

Ration dealers association secretary Anand Kumar, said their income is affected due to the introduction of electronic weighing machines, ePoS equipment and other measures, while expenses have risen.

In India, there are 5.2 lakh fair price shops, out of which 17,000 dealers are in Telangana.

SUPRAJA