National   

Ration dealers surrender licences

Kolkata: More than 5,500 ration dealers in West Bengal en masse surrendered their licences to the local authorities on Monday. They were protesting against attacks on them and their colleagues over the past few weeks by those alleging malpractices in the public distribution system.

There are 20,372 ration dealers in the State. Those who have not yet done so will surrender their licences unless security is provided to them and their colleagues in the face of violence in certain parts of south Bengal, a spokesman of the All-India Fair Price Shop Dealers’ Federation said here.

This could plunge the public distribution system, particularly in the districts of south Bengal, into a major crisis, it is being feared.

The Federation, which has also blamed the Centre for cutting down on allotments of foodgrains for the public distribution system in the State, has demanded the setting up of a committee to inquire into the allegations of anomalies in the rationing system that should include some of its representatives.

Despite an assurance from the State government that steps will be taken to prevent attacks on ration dealers, violence was continuing and the ration dealers were feeling insecure, the spokesman said.

Members of the Federation are to meet Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhatacharjee on Tuesday to discuss the situation. The latter had condemned the attacks and said the government was taking action against those guilty of malpractices.

The leadership of the Socialist Unity Centre of India has called for a 12-hour Statewide strike on October 30.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

India, Pakistan share information on recent terrorist incidents
Court orders protection to Chiranjeevi’s daughter, her husband
Ration dealers surrender licences
Rahman case papers handed over to CBI
POSCO won’t shift project: Naveen
Houses of Abu Salem’s brother raided
CII prepares Rajasthan’s roadmap for a higher share in GDP
Centre has 4 weeks to file affidavit on life convicts
Trans-LoC trade likely next year, hopes Ramesh
Panel to summon Venugopal
British honour for Abdul Kalam
Mob goes on the rampage
Youth thrashed in Bihar
Myanmar: India against coercion
Centre’s policies hit farmers, says BJP
“Put your house in order”
Rotten wheat: BJP to meet Manmohan
Sadhus oppose Modi
No threat to Srija: Uncle
Scheduled Castes panel to summon AIIMS chief Venugopal

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu