Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 2: Denied their commission for the sale of atta and rice for the last about nine months by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), the ration dealers in the winter capital city today went on strike.
More than 200 ration dealers from Jammu area assembled in the Ware House office of FCS&CA Department (Trade & Store/ Circle I &II) at around 11 am and started protest demonstration. They were shouting slogans against the concerned Minister Ch Zulfkar Ali, Director Jammu- RA Inqlabi and the concerned Assistant Directors/ District heads. They also raised slogans in support of their demands.
Later, they sat on day long dharna at the same venue. Several members of the Jammu Ration Dealers Association including Prabh Dayal and Vijay Kumar also addressed the gathering. They demanded that commission of the dealers pending since May 2017 be released without any delay. They pointed out that their deputation had met the Minister for CAPD about a month back and the minister immediately directed the CAO to transfer the amount to the concerned Assistant Directors. But the ADs are not releasing the amount for want of their own `commission on commission’. They are causing delay on the flimsy grounds and senior officers are well aware of it.
They alleged that department is charging Rs 14 per quintal against gunny bags while they are getting these bags free of cost from Food Corporation of India. They also demanded that commission/ loading/ unloading carriage charges may be deducted before depositing the cost of Atta/ rice, enhance the carriage charges from Rs 30 per qtl to Rs 100 per quintal, issue 10 kg Atta bags and issue carriage/ loading/ unloading charges of Kashmir migrant rationees as department is drawing amount from the Relief department, but denying to the ration dealers. They also demanded inquiry from Vigilance department or Crime Branch for these lapses/ irregularities.
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