An association of about 300 ration dealers from over two dozen districts of Bengal have boycotted the launch of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s pet programme, Duare Ration or doorstep ration on Tuesday at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Calcutta.

“We are not against the state government. We just don’t have the logistics to deliver ration goods to everyone’s doorstep,” said Muksed Ali, the founder of West Bengal MR Dealers’ Association, the umbrella unit of the 280 ration dealers in the state.

“The government can purchase rations goods from us and distribute those. We have no problem,” Ali said.

On Monday, the members of the association gathered at Magrahat in South 24-Parganas and protested against Duare Ration.

From the protest venue, Ali declared that members of the association would not participate in Tuesday’s programme in Calcutta.

Explaining their reasons, Ali explained why this was a loss-making scheme.

He said that to provide ration at the homes of all 4,000 consumers under him, a dealer would have to incur a cost close to Rs 1 lakh. In return, the commission a dealer will earn for the same number of consumers will be not more than Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000.

The loss would amount to almost Rs 70,000 for a dealer, he added.

“How can we possibly go ahead with this scheme? We will request the state government to reconsider its decision,” Ali said.

He also added that the government still owed the dealers an accumulated commission of 8 to 12 months.

Mamata on Tuesday will flag off Duare Ration that aims to take ration dealers to the doorsteps of 10.33 crore consumers with their products once a month.

Trinamul Congress on Monday tweeted: “Under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, Promise Made means Promise DELIVERED! With Duare Ration starting on 16 November, 2021, the doorstep delivery of ration is now a reality in Bengal.”