TS Govt serious on resolving problems of ration dealers: CV Anand

Hyderabad: Commissioner for Civil Supplies C.V. Anand on Wednesday said that the Telangana Government was serious on resolving the problems being faced by the ration dealers in the State. He assured that he would take the problems to the notice of government and find solutions.

In view of strike call from August 1st given by some unions, for last two days (Tuesday, and Wednesday), Anand held meetings with union leaders at Civil Supplies Bhavan. He conducted meeting with union members headed by Bathula Ramesh, Mallesham, Venkataramana on Tuesday and on Wednesday with Ration Dealers Welfare Sangham (Naikoti Raju) members.

Also he had a brief meeting with DCSO’s on alternate arrangements if the dealers go for strike call. He said government is in positive approach to solve ration dealers problems, in this situation if they still call for, the dealers alone will lose. So, DCSO’s should make district level and mandal level meetings with dealers and clarify this matter to them.

The Commissioner said that government is taking steps to increase commission and also to improve revenue earning methods of the ration dealers. He requested to dealers not to lose this good opportunity in this pleasant situation. Some decisions are already been taken by the government. If they still take hasty decision to go for strike, then alternative methods will be taken to ensure that people are not suffered, he said.

“Steps are taken to increase income of dealers by starting refinement of ration shops. In this part, cashless transactions are started by introducing ePos machines in all the ration shops. Till now in seven districts this system is completed. In one or two months time all over the state it will be fully implemented. In future ration shops will be turned to mini banks. The ration dealers’ earnings will increase. By introducing ePos machines all the transactions will be linked with Aadhaar cards. Turning ration shops to mini super markets is also under probation. Increase in dealers’ commission, honour wage issues will be taken to the notice of government. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will take decision on this. Till then be patient and support government,” the Commissioner said.

Anand said that the government has identified that there was variation of weight which is coming from the godown. Steps will be taken to overcome it. Officials are designated to prepare proposal to setup weighing bridges state wide at all the 171 godowns. In one or two days clear orders will be issued for allowing 1.5 % variations on whole stock. Steps will taken to take care of vigilance officials who are deliberately registering false cases on the dealers.

On this occasion Ration Dealers’ Welfare Association representatives told the Commissioner that they should be given honorary wage of Rs. 30,000, loans without interest to pay Demand Drafts, Insurance and Health Card facility. In every bag 2 to 3 kg less rice is coming from godowns. Variation in weight should be solved. Implementation of Portability should be re-considered. Vigilance Officers are deliberately registering false cases even after 1.5 % variation is allowed, they alleged.