Stamps via banks: vendors to step up agitation

Stamp vendors in Gujarat have decided to step up their agitation against the government's plan to sell stamp and stamp papers through banks.

Vendors from across the state will meet in Vadodara on Saturday to decide the further course of action.

The new stamp distribution channel to be in place from April 2005 is likely to affect over 2,500 stamp paper venders. At present stamp distributors have stopped buying stamp and stamp papers from the state government.

"We have represented our issue to the ministry of revenue of the state. However, we have not received any positive reply from the state government," said Ratilal Patel, president, Vadodara District Stamp Vendor Association (VDSVA).

A stamp vendor in Ahmedabad said, "Because of some scam which took place in Maharashtra involving political bigwigs and administrative personnel, the government has no right to snatch away our bread and butter by allowing stamp sale only through banks."

It is believed that the state government has decided to establish a new channel of distribution in view of the recent fake stamp paper scam unearthed in Maharashtra recently.

"The state government should realise that all vendors are not alike and not involved in the racket. All stamp vendors should not get affected due to certain crooks in the trade. Various trade associations have promised to support us in the agitation," said Patel.

The protest against the new distribution channel is already on locally by the respective stamp vendor associations in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat, other than smaller cities like Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Anand.

Meanwhile, stamp vendors of Surat have issued an ultimatum to the state government, threatening to stop accepting and selling stamps and stamp papers from December 12. The move is to protest the state government's decision to sell stamp papers through banks.

According to the government, the move would result in easy availability of stamp papers. It would also bring in higher transparency in sale of stamp papers, and help check the irregularities.

"If stamps and stamp papers are sold through banks, it would lead to increased difficulties for citizens. If the government shifts the stamp paper business to banks, our licences will be cancelled, and we will lose our only source of income," said a stamp vendor.

"We had written to the state government urging it to reconsider the decision, but we are yet to get any response. On account of this, all the stamp vendors have decided to boycott purchasing the stamp papers from the district treasury office and selling them to the public, from December 27," he said.