Patna, September 9 (ABN) Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) working national president Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has written to Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhry requesting an immediate and timely decision on the eight-point demands of PDS dealers.
In a letter released by the RJD to the media on Wednesday, Mr. Yadav has told the Chief Minister that PDS dealers are an important link in the state's public distribution system and work to deliver foodgrains to lakhs of poor and needy families even in dire circumstances. However, it is unfortunate that their economic and administrative problems have not been solved for a long time.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly said that due to record breaking inflation, increasing administrative difficulties, delay in payment of commission and technical problems, a serious financial crisis has arisen in front of the PDS dealers.
Mr. Yadav demanded a fixed remuneration of at least Rs 30,000 per month to PDS dealers on the Gujarat model. He also appealed to ensure commitment of empathetic appointment to the eligible dependents by abolishing the time limit for appointment on compassionate basis on the pattern of Jharkhand.
The opposition leader said that the commission for the last six months to one year is pending. It needs to be paid immediately, as non-payment of commission has created a serious economic crisis for thousands of dealers and their families. The RJD leader said that before the assembly elections, an increase of Rs 47 in the commission of PDS dealers was announced. If the increased amount has not been paid even after the lapse of one year, the outstanding amount should be paid with immediate effect.
Mr. Yadav demanded strict action on complaints of alleged corruption, irregularity and under-measurement in warehouses of Bihar State Food Corporation and made the entire system transparent. He asked to ensure real-time resolution of technical issues related to weighing, weighing, e-pos machine, server and other issues, so that PDS dealers and beneficiaries do not have to bear the brunt of technical glitches.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly called for an effective grievance redressal system at the district and block level to curb unnecessary administrative pressure and disciplinary action linked to the structure of the public distribution system and address genuine issues of dealers.
The RJD leader also appealed to organize a regular tripartite meeting of the government, departmental officials and representatives of the Fair Price Shop Dealers Association for a permanent solution to the problems of the PDS dealers.
Mr. Yadav appealed to the Chief Minister for an immediate positive and time-bound decision on the eight-point demands and expressed confidence that the state government would take concrete steps towards an early solution by sensitively and seriously considering the legitimate demands of the PDS dealers.