Stay open during strike or you will lose licence,ration shops told

Food Distribution Officer Dnyaneshwar Jawanjal said there were a total of around 1,050 fair price shops in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and it would be ensured that they remained open during the impending agitation of traders. “We are in the process of supplying adequate foodgrain stock to all fair price shops ahead of the proposed strike by local traders. These shops can offer much-needed relief to citizens during difficult times,” he said.

The Government of Maharashtra runs the Targeted Public Distribution System so that benefits of the Public Distribution System reaches the truly needy and weaker section of the society. Essential commodities,such as wheat,rice,sugar,kerosene and palm oil are distributed through the fair price shops in the district under the system.

As per official records,there are nearly 8.5 lakh ration-card holders in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad,which includes holders of saffron card (above poverty line),yellow card (below poverty line) as well as white ration cards.

Ganesh Dangi,city president of state-level forum of fair price shop owners,said shopkeepers were always ready to keep shops open provided the district administration ensured adequate supply of essential commodities. “During the weeklong strike of traders earlier this month,we were running out of stock,and hence were forced to shut our shops. The district administration should ensure such things do not take place this time,” he added.

Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat,a consumer organisation,has meanwhile requested the district administration to provide police protection to big malls to ensure that the common man does not suffer due to the strike.