FPS owners warn of state-wide stir for fixed salary

Nashik: Around 2,300 fair price shopkeepers in the district have decided to join their counterparts across the state from August 1 to take part in an indefinite strike to demand fixed salary from the government, among other demands.
There are 55,000 fair price shopkeepers across Maharashtra under the Public Distribution System (PDS) who will be participating in the state-wide stir to draw the government's attention towards their long pending demands.
Fair Price Shopkeepers (FPS) under Public Distribution System (PDS) have decided to go on indefinite strike from August 1, the president of Nashik district federation of the FPS shopkeepers said.
There are about 2,300 fair price shopkeepers in the district, 55,000 in the state - who have decided to go on indefinite strike from August 1, to draw the attention of the state government towards their long pending demands.
"Earlier, the government used to provide 23 goods through fair price shops (FPS) to the beneficiaries, which would allow the shopkeepers to make enough commission to earn their living. The list has, however, come down to only five goods. at the same time, the number of beneficiaries too as come down. Since the commission earned through such meagre sources is not enough to sustain, we have demanded fixed pay," said Nivrutti Kapse, president of the Nashik district federation of the FPS shopkeepers.
The shopkeepers have demanded that they be given a fixed salary of Rs 35,000 per month.
They have also demanded that the goods be delivered to their shops from the taluka godown so that they may carry out the disbursement to the beneficiaries.
"At present, we have to deploy our own means to tranpsport the goods from the taluka godown to our shops. We end up making multiple number of trips to get sufficient stock. This increases the transportation costs and further affects our commission. We therefore want the government to deliver the goods at our doorstep," Kapse said.
He also reminded that the federation had on April 4 presented a memorandum to the state government on the matter, which, in turn, had assured to take the action.
But so far, no action has been taken.
"We are waiting to hear from the government ever since we presented the six-point charter of the demands on April 4. Till date, there has been no communication. We have decided to go on an indefinite strike, during which period, we will not pick up any material from the godowns and will not deliver goods," Kapse said.
The district supply office is preparing to meet the challenges for carrying out supply of goods.
"We are weighing various options and shall come up with a plan by the time they go on strike," a senior officer from the district supply office said.
We are waiting to hear from the government ever since we presented the six-point charter of the demands on April 4. Till date, there has been no communication. We have decided to go on an indefinite strike, during which period, we will not pick up any material from the godowns and will not deliver goods