Gandhinagar: Around 17,000 fair price shops in Gujarat remained closed on Friday as their owners initiated an indefinite strike to protest various issues, including the demand for a minimum monthly commission of Rs 20,000 per shopowner for selling foodgrains through the public distribution system (PDS).

The All Gujarat Fair Price Shop Owners Federation also called for timely foodgrain deliveries and compensation for grain losses during sales. The strike came as a result of unmet government assurances.

“We have declared an indefinite strike starting today because our demands have not been met despite previous assurances from the government. Nearly 17,000 fair price shops in Gujarat were closed on Friday. If a mutually agreeable solution is not reached, our strike will continue into Saturday,” Mahipatsinh Gohil, the president of All Gujarat Fair Price Shop Owners Federation said on Friday. Officials in charge have invited key members of the federation for a meeting in Gandhinagar on Saturday.

Currently, government-established rates provide Rs 150 in commission for every 100 kilograms of foodgrains sold, but around 40% of shop owners struggle to reach the Rs 20,000 threshold, as they have fewer cardholders associated with their shop. The federation insists that the government bridge this income gap. DeshGujarat