Tirupati ration dealers' woes

Ration shop dealers in Tirupati allege that officials are not allowing them to sell essential commodities other than the rice, sugar, kerosene, and palm oil supplied by the Government. There are no such restrictions on ration shop dealers elsewhere in the State, they maintain.

Representatives of ration shop dealers called on Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today and requested him to take up their problems with the State Government.

The dealers complained that officials were forcing them to sell sub-standard red gram dal the Government supplies them occasionally and threatening to cut off supplies of essential commodities if they sold good quality stuff at less than the Government rate.

The dealers would like the Andhra Pradesh Government to emulate its Tamil Nadu counterpart and meet their expenditure on rent for shop and salary for a clerk and provide them house sites, and life insurance and healthcare facilities.

Dr. JP told the delegation led by Rajeswaramma and P. Bindu Sri that he would take up their demands with the Civil Supplies Department.

Mahila Satta leaders N. Sarojadevi, S. Manorama, Sridevi, C. Lakshmirajyam, and Chittoor Lok Satta leaders P. Nageswara Rao and Sainatha Reddy took part in the meeting with Dr. JP.