Faizan Wani
Srinagar, Nov 16: Fair Price shop dealers on Monday staged a protest here and demanded immediate revocation of the ‘arbitrary’ order in which they have been directed to deposit the sale amount in ‘advance’ against the stock available on ration depots.
Chanting slogans like “we want justice, revoke order”, dozens of shop owners according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) under the banner of Fair Price Shop Dealers Union (FPSOU) assembled at the Food and Supplies head office here and staged a protest to press for the revocation of order issued by the Director concerned.
Protesting dealers said the Director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (CAPD) Bashir Ahmad Khan recently issued an order in which dealers were directed to deposit sale amounts against the ration stock available on depots in advance.
They termed the order as ‘arbitrary’ asserting that the move would not only affect smooth supply of ration on sale centers but also cause problems for the people. They demanded that the order ‘impugned’ be revoked immediately so that commoners do not suffer for want of essentials.
“We have been working in the department since 2003 and the sale amount was deposited into the official account of the department after sale of supplies. However the Director FCS&CA recently issued an order directing us to deposit the sale amount in advance. We condemn the order and demand its revocation,” protesting dealers said.
They said the department had also issued an order in the year 2014 that Fair Price shop dealers would be merged in the department but six years have passed, order is yet to be implemented.
“We appeal to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, his Advisors and Director FCS&CA to have pity on us and revoke the order as early as possible, as the same would not only affect smooth supply of ration on sale centers but also create problems for the people,” they added—(KNO)
