Govt announces threefold hike in margin money for ration dealers

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 16 

The Delhi Government has announced nearly threefold increase in the margin money for ration dealers in the national capital from March for the manual distribution of food items.

Following this, the ration dealers will get Rs 2 per kg as the margin money instead of existing 70 paisa per kg from March. Rice and wheat distributed by the ration dealers, under the National Food Security Act, 2013, will be under the purview of the increase. This was stated by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain after a Cabinet meeting which was chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. 

The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Food Supply Department for increasing the margin money from Rs 70 per quintal to Rs 200 per quintal to the ration dealers for the distribution of food items through the manual mode.

The Delhi Ration Dealers’ Association had been demanding for long that the margin money for the manual distribution of food grains be increased to enable them run fair price shops in sustainable and viable manner.

Hussain said the decision to increase the margin money was taken by the government keeping in mind various factors, including daily wages of fair price shop holders, storage cost, shortage which incurs during retail distribution, electricity charges and reasonable commission and profit. “The government has given due consideration to the cost of owning or hiring a space for fair price shops in various parts of the national capital and the payment of wages to the skilled workers,” he said.

The minister expressed confidence that the decision will bring relief to the ration dealers. He stated the dealers would work with enthusiasm. Hussain said the decision would also help in curbing unlawful practices, such as black marketing, diversion, and siphoning off rations.

Proposal approved

• The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Food Supply Department for increasing the margin money from Rs 70 per quintal to Rs 200 per quintal to the ration dealers for the manual distribution of food items.  

• Rice and wheat distributed by  ration dealers under the National Food Security Act, 2013, will be covered under the new accouncement.

• Food and Civil Supplies Minister has expressed confidence that the decision will bring relief