PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Central government has released a sum of Rs 27.93 crore to Uttarakhand for clearing the pending commission and transportation dues of ration dealers. Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rekha Arya confirmed that the State has received the amount and directed officials to include the State’s share before disbursing the payments to all ration dealers. The minister said that the decision will bring relief to thousands of fair price shop owners across the State who had been waiting for their pending dues for several months.
She informed that the department has been instructed to ensure that the payment process starts without delay so that the dealers receive their benefits before Deepawali. Arya stated that about a week ago, she held a meeting with the representatives of the ration dealers’ association at the Vidhan Sabha building. During the discussion, she assured them that the State government was taking all necessary steps to ensure their long-pending dues were cleared soon.
She stated that the government is committed to addressing the concerns of ration dealers and ensuring smooth operations under the public distribution system. The minister further said that the department is in regular contact with the Central Government to receive the remaining pending funds related to commission and transport payments. She added that efforts are being made to maintain a transparent and timely payment process so that ration dealers can continue to function effectively across all districts of Uttarakhand.
