Fair price shops demand reimbursement

Dimapur, April 11 (EMN): Fair Price Shop handlers have demanded that the Nagaland government reimburse them for transportation and handling charges due them. A statement from a group representing the dealers mentioned an agreement that the fair price shops take care of handling and transportation charges for which the government would make reimbursements. An organisation, the All Nagaland Fair Price Shop Association (ANFPSA) issued a press release on Wednesday calling for redress and immediate intervention to ‘the much awaited and long pending issue’ from the Nagaland government. Since the launch of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 and the subsequent implementation of the Priority House Hold (PHH) of the Food & Civil Supply department in Nagaland Fair Price Shop dealers across Nagaland have not been receiving their “due share of getting transportation and handling charges.” This is in spite of the dealers giving their best effort to distribute essential commodities to beneficiaries of the public distribution system. ‘Fair Price shop dealers in Nagaland have done their best with full commitment and dedication by adhering to the department’s directives, bearing all transportation and handling cost, with the assurance from the government to reimbursed as and when funds reach the department,’ the ANFPSA stated. Here the group expressed dismay that the state’s government had failed to reimburse the delears the expenditure they have incurred ‘even after much appeal and representations through the director’s office.’ The association said to feel that the government has failed to deliver justice and respect the work done by the Fair Price Shop dealers. The group has appealed to the chief minister and to the advisor of the Food Corporation of India to intervene immediately and release the transportation and handling charges to the Fair Price Shop dealers to “avoid differences and complication in the future.”