In Gujarat, around 17,000 ration shops are closed due to a strike by shopkeepers. This includes 58 shops in Unjha taluka and 672 in Mehsana district. The shopkeepers are demanding 100% completion of the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. They want the KYC issues resolved before the distribution of essential goods resumes.
The public distribution system in Gujarat supplies essential items to beneficiaries holding National Food Security Act (NFSA), Below Poverty Line (BPL), and Antyodaya cards every month. However, due to ongoing KYC work, many beneficiaries have not received their entitled rations. Shopkeepers claim that this has caused frustration among customers. They are facing accusations from the public due to the lack of goods available at the shops.
The strike has affected many areas, with shops remaining closed in Unjha and other parts of Gujarat. Shopkeepers are pressing for their demands to be met, which include the actual implementation of the KYC process once it is 100% complete. They also seek to reduce the monthly distribution delays, and they request a commission of ₹300 per quintal.
Alpesh Bhai Shah, Secretary of the Gujarat Fair Price Shop Association and President of Mehsana district, stated that the government has cut the ration supplies for cardholders due to KYC delays. This has led to a decrease in the commission paid to shopkeepers. The situation has resulted in tension between cardholders and shopkeepers. The strike will continue until the KYC process is fully completed and the distribution system is restored effectively.
The ongoing strike affects many families who rely on these ration shops for their essential needs. As the situation develops, it remains crucial for the government and the shopkeepers to find a solution to ensure that the public can access their required supplies without further disruption. The resolution of these issues will hopefully lead to a smoother operation of the public distribution system in the state.
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