SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 12: Thousands of Fair Price Dealers will hold a massive demonstration and stage dharna at Ranchi in support of their 9-point demand on July 18.
President of Fair Price Dealers Association Ramesh Singh said that despite demonstration and dharna at the state capital Ranchi, if the government does not concede to the demands then over 25 lakh dealers across the country would hold a massive demonstration before the Parliament on August 2.
He said that the dealers discharge government work but they are neither given the status of government employees nor paid a proper honorarium to lead a respectful life. The government has increased the commission to Rs 20 per quintal but that is not enough.
“Jharkhand government has paid nothing as compensation to Covid victim fair price dealers so far in the state while the Rajasthan government has announced Rs 50 lakh, Gujarat government Rs 25 lakh and West Bengal government declared Rs 2 lakh. So, we have urged the Jharkhand government to consider the demands of the dealers on humanitarian grounds and announce compensation,“ said Ramesh Singh.
The Dealers Association announced that their agitation would continue till the monthly salary pay is fixed. The main demand of the dealers is the commission of Rs 440 per quintal of food grains to the distributors who operate the Food Safety Act plan, one kg handling loss compensation per quintal of food grains and the use of jute bags.
