LPG distributors threaten indefinite strike from Jan 19

Their demands include making DBTL scheme more practical

Distributors of LPG have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from January 19 until the government fulfils their demands on the policy front. The Federation of LPG Distributors of India on Monday said 12,600 distributors would stop sale of all products, other than domestic cylinders, from January 15. If their demands were not addressed, it said, distributors would go on an indefinite strike from January 19.

The demands include making the Direct Benefits Transfer scheme more practical and not putting pressure on distributors to mandatorily ask for Aadhaar card from customers. Other demands included “reversal of MDG that infringes the fundamental right of the distributors embodied in the Constitution, cancellation of the newly-advertised distributorships that are based on anti-poor and pro-rich policies benefitting only the creamy layer of the society and advertised arbitrarily without complying with the directions.”

The association also batted for a tamper-proof seal to sell quality products and avoid the hazardous practice of decanting. It also asked for de-linking non-subsidised products from subsidised products to mitigate the risk of conflict of interest and ensure accountability at every level.