PDS Dealers in Jharkhand Protest Commission Arrears and Plan Shutdown

The Fair Price Shop Dealers Association of Jharkhand staged a protest at the East Singhbhum district Deputy Commissioner’s office. They submitted a memorandum, stating that unless pending commission payments are made, all 1432 PDS shops in the district will be closed from September 1st, leading to a complete disruption of ration distribution. The protest involved prominent members of the association, including Nagesh Jaiswal, and a large number of shopkeepers. They highlighted that shopkeepers and women’s groups had not received their commissions for several months, causing significant financial hardship. Despite repeated appeals, the department has failed to release the payments. The association’s demands include immediate commission payments, repair or replacement of e-POS machines, better remuneration, and improvements in distribution and allocation processes. The association has warned that if their concerns are not addressed, shopkeepers will have to resort to an indefinite shutdown, for which the government and supply department will bear full responsibility.