AGARTALA, July 5 (TIWN): Ration shop dealers today geared up their agitation for higher commission on public distribution commodities and demanded regularization as government employees. Addressing the media at a press conference here this afternoon, Tripura Nyajya Mulyer Dokan Parichalak Committee Agartala town local committee convener Narayan Majumder said that the dealers would be expecting government employee status immediately.

The association further demanded to include 14 daily necessities in the list of commodities supplied through the public distribution system (PDS) including LPG cylinders and said that the current avatar of the Food Security Act is highly unlikely to justify the necessities of common people. "Public distribution should be universal and there can no alternative to it. We demand that universal PDS be immediately restored instead of the priority group system introduced by the current Act", Majumder said.

 He demanded strict vigil on the Indian Oil Corporation authorities for supply of kerosene oil. The current system of weighing loose oil has led to los of at least 7 litre oil in every 100 litres. The Association is expected to have local committee conference starting August 07.