PATNA: All the 55,000 public distribution system (PDS) shops in the state would remain open for nine hours each day to provide free rice and wheat to ration card holders in view of the coronavirus outbreak and resultant lockdown, food and consumer protection department (FCPD) sources said.
The government has given the responsibility to run the 55,000 PDS shops to people from scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and backward class communities as well as those from minority, women and general sections.
The PDS shopkeepers had been on strike since May 1, seeking fulfilment of their 13-point charter of demands. “The strike has been withdrawn and all the PDS shopkeeprs have been informed about it,” state Fair Price Dealers’ Association (FPDA) working president Barun Kumar Singh said.
The decisions were taken in a telephonic conversation between FCPD minister Madan Sahni and FPDA working president Singh.
Henceforth, the PDS shops in state will remain open for nine hours each day from 7am to 4pm. The one-day holiday given in a week has been done away with for the months of May and June. The FCPD will provide protective gear to the PDS shopkeeprs.
The PDS shopkeeprs will continue to take the thumb impressions of the ration card holders who receive foodgrain from their shops. They had earlier demanded withdrawal of this provision to prevent spread of Covid-19.
It was also decided to extend the age limit from 58 to 61 years for transfer of ownership of the PDS shop by one shopkeeper to his dependent on compassionate ground.
The government has given the responsibility to run the 55,000 PDS shops to people from scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and backward class communities as well as those from minority, women and general sections.
The PDS shopkeepers had been on strike since May 1, seeking fulfilment of their 13-point charter of demands. “The strike has been withdrawn and all the PDS shopkeeprs have been informed about it,” state Fair Price Dealers’ Association (FPDA) working president Barun Kumar Singh said.
The decisions were taken in a telephonic conversation between FCPD minister Madan Sahni and FPDA working president Singh.
Henceforth, the PDS shops in state will remain open for nine hours each day from 7am to 4pm. The one-day holiday given in a week has been done away with for the months of May and June. The FCPD will provide protective gear to the PDS shopkeeprs.
The PDS shopkeeprs will continue to take the thumb impressions of the ration card holders who receive foodgrain from their shops. They had earlier demanded withdrawal of this provision to prevent spread of Covid-19.
It was also decided to extend the age limit from 58 to 61 years for transfer of ownership of the PDS shop by one shopkeeper to his dependent on compassionate ground.
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