The All India Fair Shop Dealers’ Federation (AIFSDF) on Tuesday demanded that the direct transfer benefits (DTB) available to public distribution system (PDS) consumers be rolled back soon.
The federation held its annual meeting and urged the Modi Government to reinstate kerosene in PDS shops, give incentive of Rs 250 pere quintal to dealers and supply of rations to all citizens.
It threatened to hold a ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation in Delhi on September 25 and to bring in united opposition parties in favour of their demand in 2019 elections.
At the outset, some members resented absence of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surjya Narayan Patro, who was invited to grace as chief guest. law Minister Pratap Jena was also absent. However, Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty was only present.
Over five hundred fair shops owners from across India, including Odisha, participated and raised voice against the Center on DTB issue.
They charged that the Center is killing livelihoods of 5.3 lakh retailers engaged in the PDS in the country.
“If the direct transfer benefit to consumers is implemented in all States, then fair shop owners will lose their jobs,” they lamented and demanded that each dealer be paid salary of Rs 30,000 per month and Rs 250 per quintal of ration items.
Federation State president Nagendra Jena said thousands of retailers have been jobless in Punjab, Haryana and Pondicherry after implementation of the DTB.
Among others, AISFDF all-India president Pusparaj Deshmukh, general secretary Biswambar Basu and treasurer Kiran Pal Singh spoke.