PANJIM: Reiterating that the fair price shop owners will not to lift November quota if outstanding Rs 1 crore of PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) is not reimbursed at the earliest, the All Goa Consumer Co-operative Society and Fair Price Shop Owners Association has convened a general body meeting at Margao on October 22, to discuss the issue and decide next plan of action.
All Goa Consumer Co-operative Society and Fair Price Shop Owners Association general secretary Gandhi Henriques said that they had written a letter dated September 27, 2023, to the Director and Joint Secretary of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs highlighting their grievances.
Henriques said that the fair price shop owners and societies are suffering for a long time as the fair price shops have become non-viable. The government had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Secretary (Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs) to consider ways and means to assist them under the PDS in the State.
According to Henriques, the situation has become difficult as the reimbursement of PMGKAY has been continuously delayed and the last instalment of Rs 1 crore was outstanding to be disbursed to all fair price shops besides non-payment of PHH dues of August, September and October 2023.
Henriques said that there was frustration and disillusionment among the fair price shops owners and societies and they are firm on their decision not to receive the quota of allotment of food grains for November 2023.
“I know this not fair as about five lakh consumers will suffer, but we are left with no alternative,” he said hoping that the government will look into their grievances and find solutions.
