MARGAO: Unlike the other villages in the constituency, the fair price store in Loutolim village is not open as per its scheduled time. A lot of other irregularities with the functioning of the shop have irked the local residents.
The fair price store from where villagers collect their rations is supposed to be open daily from morning till evening. However, when Herald visited the fair price store in the morning around 11.30am, the shop was closed confirming the criticism by the locals.
As per the Goa, Daman and Diu Controlled Commodities, Regulation of Distribution Order, 1966, fair price stores are authorised as a retail distributor by the Directorate of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. As per the provisions of the order, they have been authorised to purchase, store and sell sugar, rice, wheat, jowar, bajra and any other commodity required to be sold through the fair price shop.
Locals pointed out that they visit the shop mainly to purchase wheat and rice while sugar is available for ration card holders who come under the below poverty line.
Locals have complained that they are often forced to return empty handed despite standing in the line as the shop is closed down abruptly due to some flimsy reasons.
“In the other villages the shops are open even on Sundays but here we are not sure when the shop will be open and in most cases it is closed in the morning itself,” said a villager, fed up with the state of affairs.
The issues had been discussed verbally at the gram sabhas in the past but no action has been taken.
Incidentally, the village of Nagoa recently got a fair price store at the panchayat itself after the villagers had complained that they had to travel far distances to Verna to collect rations. Villagers said it was unfair to them that they had to suffer because of such irregularities when people from other villages don’t have such problems.
“The fair price stores play an important role at a time when inflation is increasing rates of commodities but if we are being denied access to the fair price store, it defeats the purpose of having fair price stores and helping the beneficiaries in times of need,” added another villager.
Senior citizens also complained that if they sent someone else to collect ration on their behalf as they are not physically able to visit the ration store, they are also sent back causing them further inconvenience while this is not an issue at other fair price stores. The villagers demanded that a proper check be carried out on this shop since silly excuses are being given by the staff.
Incidentally, as per the rules issued by the Directorate of Civil Supplies there are a total of 17 instructions on how to conduct the business and all the guidelines and regulations with regard to safety, records and financial transactions. Villagers demanded that an inspection be done of the premises and its functioning to check if there are on par as the prescribed rules.
