While commenting on the State Government’s decision to transfer the subsidy, being spent on the purchase of food grains under Public Distribution System, among the beneficiaries, Uttaranchal Fair Price Dealers’ Association (UFPDA) president Jitendra Gupta said that though it is a laudable move the Government must consider the interests of the owners of the PDS outlets. “We are sure it would bring transparency in the PDS. But we regret that the government has not cared to take us into confidence before it took the decision,” he said. He said that while the Centre is giving the PDS dealers Rs 143 as commission for a quintal of food items being sold under the national food security scheme the amount they are getting from the Government as commission for the same under state food security scheme is Rs 118. He demanded the commission given by the government be increased to Rs 143 in the least. As per statistics, at present, 10.47 lakh ration card holders are registered under the state food security scheme with 45 lakh people deriving its benefit. Gupta further said that taking a cue from the state governments in Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and some others, the Uttarakhand Government should protect the dealers’ interests by giving each of them a fixed amount of Rs 30, 000 a month in the form of allowances.