Uttar Pradesh News: Hardoi Fair Price Shop Dealers Threaten Ration Strike In August, Demand Higher Commission And Systemic Reforms

Hardoi: Fair price shop dealers in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, staged a protest on Monday and submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, outlining their demands to the District Supply Officer.

The dealers have warned that if their demands are not met, they will halt ration distribution for the first three days in August. One of their primary demands is an improvement in the current system of collecting beneficiary feedback via phone.

They allege that opponents or unrelated individuals often register false complaints, leading to unnecessary investigations for the dealers. Furthermore, the dealers have demanded an increase in their commission.

Currently, they receive ₹90 per quintal for food grains and ₹70 per quintal for sugar, whereas this amount is ₹200 per quintal in states like Haryana, Delhi, and Goa. They also pointed out that operators of shops run by self-help groups bear expenses such as electricity bills, rent, and labor costs themselves.

Their other demands include direct deposit of commission into their accounts and equal commission for the distribution of food grains under MDM (Mid-Day Meal) and Anganwadi schemes. The dealers have made it clear that if their demands are not fulfilled, distribution work in August will be disrupted, and the responsibility for this disruption will lie with the government and administration.