Kolkata, December 29 (IANS): The All India Fair Price Shop Owners’ Association (AIFPSOA), an umbrella body of different ration shop owners, on Friday called for an indefinite strike throughout the country from January 2.
The association has already started staging a sit-in-agitation in Kolkata from Friday in support of its indefinite strike call from next Tuesday. The association members will also organise a convention to press their demand at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on January 15.
AIFPSOA General Secretary Bishwambhar Basu told mediapersons on Friday that a total of 5, 38,000 fair price shop owners will be participating in the indefinite nationwide strike from next Tuesday. “Our principal demand is advance commission. This has been a long-standing demand. Going for an indefinite strike was not an overnight decision. But our appeals have been repeatedly turned down, so finally we have decided to go for the strike,” Basu said.
He also claimed that the fair price shop owners have to spend money from their pockets to keep the show running.
“This cannot continue for an indefinite period. We have approached both the Union and state government with our legitimate demands. However, we did not receive any positive response from anyone,” he added.
Basu also claimed that the fair price shop owners in West Bengal are subjected to mental torture in the name of the public distribution system (PDS) controller. “The fair price shop owners are being made scapegoats just to hide the corruption in the ration distribution system in the state,” Basu claimed.
ANFPSA extends solidarity, support
Ration Bandh from January 1, 2024
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 29 (MExN): The All Nagaland Fair Price Shop Association (ANFPSA) has extended solidarity and support to the nation-wide agitation called by the All India Fair Price Shop Dealers’ Federation demanding the Government of India to address the issues raised by the FPS dealers.
In a press release, the ANFPSAthrough its president Hotoshe Sumi and general secretary G Meijiang said it would adhere to the phase wise agitationon the following strategies- Distribution of rations by wearing Black Badge from December 1-15, Writing and submission of memorandum to Union Government from December 16-31 followed by indefinite ‘Ration Bandh’ from January 1, 2024.
In this connection, dealers running FPS all over Nagaland have been informed to strongly support the stand of the Federation with full cooperation and join positively without lifting the ration from January 2024 onwards till further notice from the Federation.
Further, the Association has appealed the Food &Civil Supplies Department, general public and beneficiaries (Ration card holder) in particular to understand, cooperate and bear with the FPS dealers and express deep regret for the inconveniences.
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