Ration dealers' stir continues in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 23: Though the state committee of Ration Dealers' Association called off their stir after a meeting with chief minister and food minister in Kolkata today, the ration dealers of Malda refused to lift food and other materials today, said Mr NK Saha, the district controller of food and supplies. "The ration dealers have decided against lifting foodgrain this week. Though their parent association called off the agitation today, the ration dealers of Malda did not meet me today to confirm their stand," Mr Saha, added. He said that in a bid to maintain PDS supply, he would request the local ration dealers to lift foodgrain meant for APL and BPL consumers.It may be recalled that local ration dealers yesterday informed the authorities that they would not lift food material for PDS.The ration dealers had also threatened to surrender their licences if the authorities failed to provide them adequate security. The DCFS, Mr NK Saha, however, claimed that the ration deadlock would be solved in a day or two in the district."We need to fulfill the demands of wheat for APL consumers because the market rate of wheat is too high in Malda," Mr Saha, said. According to a survey conducted by the food and supplies department, the price of wheat is Rs. 6.75 per kg; the present market rate is Rs 10 to 12 per kg in Malda. In 2005, the PDS price and market price was equal but in early 2006 the market price of wheat increased drastically. As a result, the APL consumers are demanding wheat from PDS. The government is supplying 250-gram wheat per adult unit and 125 gram per minor unit per week. "We should increase the scale of wheat distribution to bring the situation under control", Mr Saha, said. Many APL consumers are also demanding rice from PDS because the present market price of such rice is Rs 13 to Rs 14 per kg.The scale of rice distribution was 1 kg per adult unit and 500 gram per minor unit per week. For BPL consumers, though the government used to distribute 750-gram grains per head per week but now it is distributing 650 gram because allocation has been decreased by 100 gram, food officials, said.