Andhra Pradesh Ration Shop Dealers Association president Bugata Venkateswara Rao on Monday asked the government to withdraw its orders which would lead to arrest of the dealers even before the charges of malpractices were proved in the court.
He said that the GO No.15 given on August 1, 2018 would be detrimental to the interests of 29,600 dealers in the State. The association organised a rally in Vizianagaram to highlight the grievances of the dealers.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Venkateswara Rao said that the government introduced e-POS (point of sale) machines to observe the distribution and stock position and there was no necessity to issue the ‘controversial’ order.
Salary hike sought
“Hundreds of dealers are leading a pathetic life with payment of meagre margin which is not at all sufficient to pay rents and wages of workers. The government should fix ₹30,000 per month as salary for all the dealers instead of paying commission. We will meet all expenses and transport charges with that amount,” he added.
According to him, the government pays ₹70 per bag as commission for rice and ₹16 per bag of sugar. With the skyrocketing of transport charges due to hike in petroleum prices, the dealers are incurring losses.
“New persons are not coming forward to take up dealerships. Meagre commission, constant harassment and huge physical work turned into a bane for public distribution system in the State,” he added.
General secretary of Vizianagaram district association V. Narayana Rao said that they would meet Ministers and Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu very soon to explain their grievances.