Revamp PDS to control price rise: CPI(M)

Party workers stage dharna at civil supply office at Gandhinagar

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Poor and middle class bearing the brunt, says MP

New card holders not getting rations, alleges CPI(M) secretary

VIJAYAWADA: The CPI(M) on Wednesday staged a dharna demanding the government to take immediate steps to regulate the prices of essential commodities by revamping the public distribution system. Rajya Sabha member P. Madhu, who addressed the dharna at the civil supply office at Gandhinagar, expressed concern that the poor and middle class was bearing the brunt of the spiralling prices of all important commodities. He alleged that the government was playing the role of a mere spectator even as the prices of all the commodities were touching the sky. He demanded that the government extend a helping hand to the poor by distributing all the commodities through public distribution system free of cost.

“Instead of addressing the burning issue of price rise, the government is according top priority to the issue of separate Statehood to Telangana. The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities is the major problem of the poor now,” he said. The MP felt the need to revamp the public distribution system and take the initiative to regulate the prices.

CPI (M) city secretary R. Raghu said there were many poor families in the city that were depending on rice and other commodities being distributed through the ration shops. “Unfortunately, there is a cut in the quota of one or more commodities every month. In addition to this, the government is cancelling ration cards by claiming them as bogus ones,” he said.

Mr. Raghu alleged that the new ration card holders were not getting rations for the last one year and despite several complaints there was no action from the officials. Referring to the prices of vegetables, Mr. Raghu demanded that the government take steps to regulate the prices of vegetables too and distribute them on subsidy.

In a memorandum submitted to Assistant Supply Officer Krishna Rao, the party leaders urged the government to regulate the prices and ensure proper distribution of commodities through ration shops. They stressed the need for distributing two litres of kerosene each to those who had only single cooking gas cylinder. Distribution of ‘kandipappu’ at a price of Rs. 30 a kg though the fair price shops, distribution of sugar and dal on ration cards, distribution of 30 kg rice a month to white ration card holders were the other demands of the CPI(M).