Shopian, June 27 (JKNS): The All Fair Price Shop Dealers Union, South Kashmir, on Saturday held a meeting at Padpawan in Shopian, urging the government to introduce a fixed commission for Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers and release long-pending commission dues, saying the existing system has become financially unsustainable.
The meeting was chaired by Aijaz Ahmad Malik, President of the All Fair Price Shop Dealers Union, South Kashmir, and was attended by Vice President Bilal Ahmad, General Secretary Sheeraz Ahmad, Cashier Mohammad Shafi Itoo, along with office-bearers and Fair Price Shop dealers from across South Kashmir.
During the meeting, the participants unanimously appealed to the government to introduce a fixed commission for Fair Price Shop dealers. They said the existing commission structure is inadequate and does not correspond with the increasing operational costs and responsibilities associated with running Fair Price Shops.
The members also urged the government to release the pending commission dues for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 without further delay. They said the prolonged delay in payments has placed many dealers under severe financial stress and adversely affected the smooth functioning of Fair Price Shops.
The participants observed that Fair Price Shop dealers remain an important pillar of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and have continued to serve beneficiaries despite numerous challenges. They appealed to the government to acknowledge their contribution by addressing their long-pending demands at the earliest.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous resolution requesting the concerned authorities to take immediate action on the issues raised, particularly the implementation of a fixed commission policy and the clearance of all pending dues. The Union expressed hope that the government would respond positively to safeguard the welfare and dignity of Fair Price Shop dealers across Jammu and Kashmir. (JKNS)