Balasore: Stamp vendors, under the aegis of Odisha Stamp Vendors Association, alleging a raw deal by the state government, staged a sit-in outside the sub-registrar’s office here to press for their demands Monday.
As many as 120 stamp vendors in Simulia, Oupada, Soro, Khaira, Nilagiri, Bahanaga, Remuna, Basta, Baliapal, Jaleshwar and Bhogarai are also participating in the protest in their respective areas. The agitation has hit court work in the district.
Ramesh Chandra Das, president of District Stamp Vendors Association, alleged that the state government has never tried to fulfil their demands despite promising them a number of times.
Secretary Subrat Das alleged that the neglect by the state government has hit their livelihood. The government’s neglect in fulfilling their demands has affected over 4,000 stamp vendors in the state, he said.
Das demanded to stop sale of e-stamp, increase the sale-purchase capacity and rate of commission on court fee stamps over 50 years and transfer of powers to the federation to grant sanction to a vendor. The stamp vendors said they are forced to take up the agitation route after all their prayers for fulfilment of their demands fell on deaf ears.
As a result, stamp vendors from various parts of the state have launched an indefinite stir outside every tehsil office and sub-registrar’s office. Vice-president of the association Santosh Kumar Dey, assistant secretary Muftar Hussain and treasurer Tridesh Kumar Pati also participated in the sit-in.
PNN