Former Minister Calls for Dialogue with Ration Dealers and Fulfilment of Pending Assurances
Gajwel–Pragnapur, Telangana: Former Minister and BRS Legislature Party Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao attended a state-level meeting of ration dealers held at Bingi Ellaiah Gardens in Gajwel–Pragnapur, Siddipet district, on Tuesday. Representatives of ration dealers from all 33 districts of Telangana participated in the meeting to discuss their pending demands and operational challenges.
Addressing the gathering, Harish Rao highlighted issues concerning ration dealers’ honorariums, commission payments, pending dues and the financial condition of the Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation. He urged the state government to initiate discussions with representatives of the ration dealers’ association and address their concerns.
Harish Rao Highlights Ration Dealers’ Demands
Harish Rao expressed concern over the difficulties faced by ration dealers and referred to statements made by the association’s state president, Nayikoti Raju, regarding the need for urgent action on their demands.
He also referred to recent remarks by Jadcherla Congress MLA Anirudh Reddy concerning pending contractor bills and financial allocations. Harish Rao questioned the difficulties faced by public representatives and ration dealers in securing payments and resolving their respective issues.
He appealed to everyone not to resort to extreme measures and called for collective efforts and constructive dialogue to resolve the pending matters.
Questions Financial Management of Civil Supplies Corporation
Harish Rao alleged that decisions taken by the state government had contributed to the financial difficulties of the Civil Supplies Corporation, claiming that its liabilities had reached approximately ₹1 lakh crore.
He also raised concerns about around ₹600 crore worth of coarse rice allegedly remaining in warehouses and fair-price shops for 16 months. He called for effective stock management and measures to prevent wastage of food grains.
These financial figures and claims were raised by Harish Rao during the meeting.
Seeks Implementation of Assurances to Dealers
The former minister said that ration dealers had been seeking the implementation of assurances made before the elections, including a monthly honorarium of ₹5,000, a commission of ₹300 and the introduction of mini-supermarkets.
He questioned the delay in addressing these demands and referred to the concerns expressed by the association over the lack of meetings with senior officials and Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy.
Harish Rao also highlighted the monthly honorarium demand of approximately 17,200 ration dealers and urged the government to examine the financial requirements involved.
Calls for Government–Dealer Dialogue
Emphasising the importance of the public distribution system, Harish Rao called on the state government to invite the ration dealers’ association for discussions and work towards resolving outstanding issues.
He stated that the BRS would raise the concerns of ration dealers in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council if their demands remained unresolved.
Leaders Attend State-Level Meeting
The meeting was attended by MLA and state honorary president of the Ration Dealers’ Association, Gudem Mahipal Reddy; MLC Dr Yadav Reddy; former FDC chairman Vanteru Pratap Reddy; association state president Nayikoti Raju; general secretaries Srikanth, Daravath Mohan Naik and Aziz; Siddipet district president Nagaraju; and other representatives.
The meeting focused on the demands of ration dealers, pending payments, honorarium and commission-related issues, and the need for effective coordination between the government and the public distribution system.
