Dimapur, February 6 (MExN): The All Nagaland Fair Price Shop Association (ANFPSA) has called for a ‘ration and e-PoS device bandh’ from February 7 to 9, in support of the All India Fair price Shop Dealers’ Federation’s charter of demands with regard to supply of food grains and other related issues.
The federation is demanding continuation of food grains supply under the old PMGKAY schemes as before; to minimise “harassments” of cardholders; allowing distribution through e-PoS device by inserting Aadhaar Numbers of affected cardholders in cases of emergency; implementation of ‘World Food Program (3rd Party)’ recommendations with minimum FPS Margin of Rs 764 per quintal by the Centre; and ensuring minimum monthly income guarantee of Rs 50,000 as honorarium to FPS dealers.
It is also demanding grant of 1 kg per quintal as handling/transit loss on rice, wheat and sugar; supply of edible oil, pulses and sugar through Fair Price Shops for arresting spiraling prices at the same time boost up concerned farmers; ensuring food grains supply through jute gunny bags; allowing rural Fair Price Shop Dealers’ to function as Direct Procurement Agents for rice and wheat; compensation of Rs 50,000 to COVID victims; and due margin reimbursement for all States/UTs.
With the demand being intimated to the Union Government before the recent Budget Session 2023-2024, the association said it hoped to hear good news to relieve the Public Distribution System and the consumers.
However, it lamented that “to our utter surprise, instead of bringing relief to the consumers belonging to the middle and lower-middle class, prices of diamond have been cut down for the benefit of those who have plenty.”
The association said that despite the bandh, it will ensure that there is no disruption in supply and are “committed to guarantee distribution on all other days of the month working overtime if needed with permission of the Department.”
