According to officials, people across districts had to return empty-handed as ration shops shut stores. West Bengal Food and Supplies Minister Rathin Ghosh said the state government was monitoring the situation. “There were no reports of a full shutdown on Tuesday.

The demands of the agitators are being treated with sensitivity. Efforts are being made to ensure that people get all food items. The full impact of the bandh will not fall on Bengal.”

Earlier in December, the All India Fair Price Shop Dealers Association had written to Ghosh to inform the state government about the strike.

In its letter, the association wrote, “Since the implementation of the National Food Security Act across India, 50 per cent of urban and 25 per cent of rural people have been out of the ambit of ration distribution. On one hand, the public distribution system has shrunk, and on the other the livelihood of ration dealers’ is in danger… We are forced to observe a nationwide indefinite ration strike from January 2, 2024, due to non-fulfilment of our long-standing demands and imposing the burden on state governments.”

The association’s general secretary Biswambhar Basu said, “Apart from a hike in commission, we demand that the state government should withdraw the repressive policy introduced in the name of public distribution system control. Otherwise, our movement will continue. We do not want to harass customers but this movement will ultimately help common people.”