MARGAO
The All Goa Consumer Co-operative Society and Fair Price Shop Owners Association has resolved not to lift the food grain quota for the month of November, demanding that the Civil Supplies Department comply with National Food Security Act 2013 mandating doorstep delivery to the fair price shops.
Pointing out that the Association has already notified the government on the issue, they lamented that no reply has been received till date over their demand to deliver the November quota at the doorstep of all fair price shops/ societies.
The fair price shop owners further pointed out that the owners were forced to bear the cost of transportation and labour all these years, adding that the government has not reimbursed to the owners around Rs 1 crore due since the last three years.
Addressing the media after the Association’s general body meeting here on Sunday, Association general secretary Gandhi Henriques pointed out that the owners in one voice have unanimously resolved not to lift the November quota of food grains from the godowns. He said the National Food Security Act mandates the government to implement doorstep delivery of food grains to the fair price shops.
Association Chairman Joaquim Fernandes said the fair price shop owners will pay challan for the food grains, but will not lift the quota in November, as he demanded the government to deliver the quota to the doorstep of the shops as per the law.
He said the general body at its meeting held on Sunday discussed at length the letter dated 27 September, 2023 in which various issues primarily related with disbursement of Rs 1 crore towards PMGKAY of foodgrains distributed to the beneficiaries as transport cost, labour charges and handling losses of food grains.
