The All-Nagaland Fair Price Shop Association (ANFPSA) has called on Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to step in and resolve what it described as long-pending issues faced by Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers, cautioning that continued neglect could hamper ration distribution in the near future.
In a representation submitted through the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, the association said the concerns were formulated during its State Working Committee meeting on November 22, which saw participation from FPS unions across 15 districts.
According to the representation, made public on Thursday, FPS dealers who are not provided salaries or allowances are under growing financial pressure due to non-payment of transportation and handling commission bills. The association also alleged that unusually high deductions were being made from their dues without clear justification. It appealed to the state government to clear all outstanding payments at the earliest.
The ANFPSA further sought uniform guidelines for FPS operations in both rural and urban areas. It said that the practice of distributing rice once every two or three months in some districts was creating inconsistencies, especially since EPoS data is used for calculating carried balances and billing.
The association demanded that beneficiaries be given a minimum 25-day window to collect their rations and called for weighbridges to be installed in all districts to prevent losses arising from inaccurate measurements.
Another major point of concern was the delay in identifying Tide-Over rice beneficiaries. The association noted that although substantial quantities of Tide-Over rice are received by the state each month, the intended beneficiary list remains unsettled despite earlier assurances that the category would be merged with GHH cards. It urged the government to ensure that only eligible households receive the rice by removing ineligible AAY and PHH beneficiaries.
Additional issues raised include the need for accurate net-weight delivery from PDCs, reports of arbitrary deductions affecting AAY beneficiaries in Mokokchung, irregularities in ration card allocations, and inconsistent supply of dal and sugar.
The association also sought public disclosure of OMSS outlet locations along with government-approved rates so that citizens can easily access subsidized rice.
Warning that FPS dealers may soon be unable to download truck chits or continue distribution if the department insists on carrying forward unresolved carried balances, the ANFPSA urged the chief minister to release pending bills and initiate corrective steps to ensure the public distribution system functions smoothly and transparently across Nagaland.