The Fair Price Shop Dealers Association, Jharkhand, staged a strong demonstration at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum district on Monday. The association warned that if the pending commission payments are not cleared, 1432 PDS shops in the district will shut down from September 1st, completely halting the lifting and distribution of rations.
District President of the association, Nagesh Jaiswal, along with senior secretary Satyanarayan Rajak, treasurer Laxman Meedak, legal advisor Advocate Vijay, and organization secretary Vibhish Sav, along with a large number of shopkeepers, reached the Deputy Commissioner’s office to protest. They stated that the commission for shopkeepers and women’s group committees has been pending for several months, leaving their families on the verge of starvation. Despite repeated appeals, the department has yet to make the payments.
The association has put forth demands including commission payment, repair and replacement of e-POS machines, increase in honorarium, and improvements in distribution and allocation. The association made it clear that if their problems are not resolved, the shopkeepers will be forced to indefinitely close their shops, and the government and supply department will be held fully responsible.