Nationwide Strike by Fair Price Shop Owners May Disrupt Public Distribution System

The All India Fair Price Shop Owners’ Association (AIFPSOA) has called for a nationwide indefinite strike, posing potential challenges to the Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiaries. The strike is in support of two main demands: the provision of advance commissions at the national level and the alleged harassment of ration dealers by the State Food and Supplies Department in West Bengal under the guise of the PDS Controller.

The association claims that ration dealers are caught in a bureaucratic deadlock, with the Centre and state governments passing responsibility back and forth on the advance commission issue. The strike is expected to be withdrawn upon receiving assurances that their demands will be addressed. A convention to press for their demands is scheduled for January 15 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.