Government unfair, say fair price shop dealers

Hyderabad: Telangana Mahila Fair Price Shops dealer’s association on Wednesday gathered at the Press Club to discuss several issues such as increase in salary, arrears which was released four years ago and is yet be taken up by the chief minister. In order to reach out to the Chief Minister the association members on will gather at Ambedkar statue on Thursday with an invitation letter to the CM.

A shop dealer from Karimnagar Vasantha Mohan (convener) said that 30 per cent of fair price shop dealers are women and most of them are widows and physically disabled. “We want to meet the chief minister and discuss our issues of recognition as Asha workers and home guards are now entitled as government employees. We do not have any recognition although we were examined and elected by self-employment scheme, she added.

Vasantha also mentioned about the issues such as health cards as they work under dust conditions and there are a lot of health issues associated with it. According to her, the major trouble is the shops keep changing as they are on rent because of which we would like to have a designated shop so that we do not have to move from one location to the other every day.

She said that arrears released four years ago by the government is still not initiated.
Association has drafted several memos to the higher officials about the problems faced by the women dealers but all have been in vain, she said.