The stalemate over the issue of the striking public distribution shop dealers does not appear to be over in the coming few days. It is to lengthen. The two - the PDS dealers and the state government look the other way round.
The PDS dealers have debatable demands. One of the demands is that in the event of death of a dealer who is 60 plus, his or her family be retained to run the PDS. The PDS dealers want ex gratia relief in terms of retention of the PDS by the deceased family.
On the other hand civil supplies minister Rameshwar Oraon said "Our department is to see this demand. But one thing has to be kept very clear. Running a PDS shop is no government job."
The PDS dealers demand that their commission be enhanced which is right now 1 rupee per kg. They want it to be 3 rupees per 1kg.
The state finance department will never agree to such enhancement as any hike in commission will mean tremendous fiscal pressure on the state exchequer.
The PDS dealers prefer individual running PDS shops instead of women self help groups running it.
The state government on the other hand is gradually pushing in women self help groups to run the PDS shops. It may take 5 years or more when an individual running a PDS shop will be a tale of the past.
Epos (electronic point of sales) machines given to the PDS dealers are 2G as a result it does not even limp. A 4G Epos machine is demanded. The PDS dealers have a point here.
The PDS dealers demand payment of the arrears of their commission for around 10 months. The PDS dealers claim it is their all India strike since January 1 while Jharkhand minister Rameshwar Oraon counters it saying this strike is in only 11 states in India.
The PDS dealers believe the central government will intervene while the supply chain of food grains is a state matter.
Minister Rameshwar Oraon said the striking PDS dealers ought to be aware of the ground reality.
The strike of the PDS dealers has left 18,28,781 beneficiaries in lurch in Palamu. This figure of 18 lakh plus includes prioritized households and Antodaya Yojna.
No government ration is permissible to 10,662 white card holders.
Similarly 20,000 green card holders await for coverage as against 80,000 vacancies in green card here in Palamu, 61,000 plus green card holders are covered with green card and also wait for the ration held up due to the strike of the PDS dealers.
More than 14000 card holders of Antodaya Yojna belonging to the PVTG are the worst sufferers because of the PDS dealers going on strike in Daltonganj.
