Tamil Nadu: Kanimozhi, DMK workers hold state-wide protest over govt 'sabotaging' fair price system
DMK workers staged the protest against the Tamil Nadu government bearing the cause that the state's fair price shops are not distributing products as promised to the people.
In Short
- Since the beginning of 2017, people have been returning empty handed from these shops.
- Stalin has complained that the ruling government has completely sabotaged the system.
- Kanimozi staged the protest along with party leaders in front of a TUCS shop in Royapettah.
Adhering to the announcement made by DMK working president MK Stalin on Friday, the party leaders and cadres conducted a state-wide protest against the Tamil Nadu government today bearing the cause that the state's fair price shops are not distributing products as promised to the people.
Tamil Nadu is known for its public welfare and public district schemes. In fact, the state provides 20 kg free rice to anyone under the below poverty line and 20 kg rice costing Rs 1 per kg for the general ration card holders.
Apart from that, sugar, palm oil, pulses and kerosene are also in the list of products to be distributed at a nominal price. However, since the beginning of 2017, people have either been returning empty handed or with limited products from the fair price shops.
"The fair price shops were constituted because people could not afford the rice and dal being sold at higher prices. But the ruling government has completely sabotaged the system," complained Stalin.
'PDS HAS COME TO A STANDSTILL IN STATE'
DMK leader Kanimozi staged a protest along with party caders in front of a TUCS shop in Royapettah. "What is unfortunate is that the PDS in Tamil Nadu has come to a standstill. There is procurement but no distribution and we don't know why. The quality of rice has come down drastically and products are not available even in the first week of the month," she said.
Kanimozi also said that the state government is not bothered about the other major issues including water shortage and farmers' suicide. She claimed that people will teach AIADMK a lesson in the upcoming RK Nagar by-poll.
Tamil Nadu still maintains that there is no shortage but sources claim there is a shortage of products because no call for tender has been made since December and the situation might worsen if the damage control steps aren't taken at the earliest.
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