DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 31 (MExN): The All Nagaland Fair Price Shop Association (ANFPSA) has expressed concern at what it termed was the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards Fair Price Shop dealers in releasing transportation and handling charges.
A press release from the ANFPSA questioned why the sanction money was kept pending thus far as the money is already in the department’s account. It informed that the association has requested the State Government through a representation to the Director, Food & Civil Supplies for early release of the money. “But to our utter surprise, the humble appeal was kept in the dark without paying due urgency,” it stated.
It informed that the transportation and handling commission pending due to the Fair Price Shop dealers has a backblock for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.
“Presently, the food grains are being distributed through 1,621 Fair Price Shops selected/appointed by the department all over Nagaland under the National Food Security Act 2013. Besides the normal monthly food grain distribution to NFSA beneficiaries, the FPS dealers has also took up extra efforts with dedication in distributing free rations of different schemes announced by the Government of India from April-November 2020 since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the association said.
“For all the sacrifices and commitment rendered thus far, we are utterly surprised to see the department and the present State Government’s apathy towards the Fair Price Shop dealers in delaying the release of pending bill even after receiving the amount sanction by the Central Government,” it added.
The association cautioned that failure to take up the issue by November 10 would compel it to take its own course of action by means of democratic forms of agitation from November 11 onwards.
It meanwhile appealed to the beneficiaries in particular and the public to understand and support the cause.
“The form of agitation has been strategically worked out with the cooperation and strong support of all the All India Fair Price Shop Dealers’ Federation and its constituent district units,” it informed.
