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Dealers assail handing over of PDS to PACS

PATNA — Fair Price Dealers’ Association on Monday opposed the Nitish Kumar government’s move to hand over public distribution system (PDS) to Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS).

Describing the state government’s move as anti-people, it said that the handing over of the PDS to PACS would deprive 45,000 PDS shop owners of their livelihood.

Association general secretary Srikant Labh, said that from November 25, Association members would organize demonstrations in front of divisional commissioners’ offices and submit memorandum in support of their demands.

When questioned about rampant corruption in PDS system, Labh said a PDS dealer cannot dare indulge in corrupt practices as he is under scanner of government officials and mukhiyas.

He said that the association’s demands included declaring PDS dealers as government employees, door delivery on government’s expenditure, withdrawal of government’s decision to hand over PDS to PACS.

The Association is also demanding to be treated at par with government employees and seeking wages. On November 4, ten persons were injured as police resorted to baton charge and used water cannons to disperse agitating employees of state administered fair price dealer shops in Patna. Seven protesters were held for inciting and indulging in violence.

Last week, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said the government would hand over the management of the state’s PDS to PACS in order to prevent irregularities.

“Since all works of villages and farmers will be under the purview of PACS for implementation and surveillance, it will be better to give them the additional responsibility to avoid irregularities,” Nitish had said.

- AGENCIES