Punjab fair price shop owners call off strike

Around 26,000 fair price shop owners in Punjab today announced to call off their two-month strike after the state government assured them that it would follow the Centre's decision on their monthly compensation for distributing subsidised foodgrains.
They said the Punjab government had also agreed to bear transportation cost for delivering foodgrains from godowns to depots, and to revoke suspension of 25 depot holders' licences, who were penalised for the strike.
"We have today decided to call off our two months long strike as the state government has assured us to resolve our issues," Punjab Depot Holders Union president Gurjinder Singh Sidhu said here today.

The fair price shop owners began the strike over two months ago, seeking a monthly remuneration of Rs 20,000 for distributing subsidised foodgrains and compensation for distribution of ration under the state's Atta-Dal scheme.
"We have been assured by officials of the Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Department that the state government will implement the decision of the Centre whenever it takes with regard to compensating fair price shop owners for distributing foodgrains under the National Food Security Act," he said.
He said that the Centre had constituted a nine-member committee to decide upon the compensation for them.
"We have also been assured that the state government will bear the expenses on purchasing foodgrains stock," Sidhu said, adding that this move would provide a financial relief of Rs 2,500- 3,000 per month to a depot holder.