Bishambar Bose, general secretary of the West Bengal Ration Shop Owners Association announced the decision on Tuesday. He said they had earlier placed their demands to make the shops profitable. But the food and supplies department had not taken proper steps to implement it.

Earlier, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had announced the formation of a committee in October to ascertain why ration shops were incurring losses. The committee would also place its recommendations within two weeks, he said.

Bose added that two months had already passed but the committee did not place its report. There is no other option left but to go on a strike, he added.

Paresh Chandra Adhikary, minister for food and supply, said the committee will place the report very soon. “I am outside Kolkata. This is the first time that I have heard about the strike. I shall discuss the matter with the officials after reaching Kolkata tomorrow,” the minister added.

Bose said the association demands withdrawal of VAT from the commodities so that it could be sold at a cheaper price than the market rate. VAT is being charged at the rate of 4 per cent to 12.5 per cent from essential items also except rice, wheat and sugar. Ration shops now sell matchboxes, sauce, jam, exercise books and the price is not less than the market.