Kerosene Oil Hawkers distressed over worsening conditions

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam State PDS Kerosene Oil Hawkers’ Union put forth their grievances before the State Government and expressed their distress over the deteriorating condition that they are being made to endure.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, president of the Union Alom Patowary said that they sat for a meeting with Food and Civil Supply Minister Phani Bhusan Choudhury on Monday, and discussed their grievances.

“We placed certain demands before the Minister while trying to put across our cause of distress. The previously determined kerosene quantity of each hawker has recently been reduced. We have attached with the fair price shops because under the NFSA (National Food Security Act) ration card holders have to approach the fair price shops for kerosene. Our first demand is that like before, we should be allowed to hawker and sell kerosene independently without involving the fair price shops,” said Patowary. He further alleged that in the pretext of investigation, documents of several have been seized. The kerosene share of these hawkers should be distributed among other hawkers.

He also reminded that ruling Government about their promise of reducing PDS (Public Distribution System) prices, however, the price of kerosene remains the same. As such, the Union demanded that the price of kerosene is reduced.

“There are 13,216 hawkers in the State and we are suffering severely from the economic crunch. Moreover, most of these hawkers are above the age of 50. Now, since we are unable to survive on hawking for kerosene alone, we should be given the responsibility of supplying LPG cylinders, where we can work on commission and improve our living conditions,” said Patowary. Food and Civil Supply Minister Phani Bhusan Choudhury, in turn assured that he will try to solve the demands of the kerosene hawkers phase wise.

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