Nation

Govt Moving towards modern & vibrant FPS in India

In an event on 16th Febraury 2023, Secretary Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Sanjeev Chopra said “Fair Price Shops Dealers can earn Rs.50,000 by providing additional community services.” The Secretary was addressing the National Conference on Transformation of Fair Price Shops.

He shared the success story of Gujarat, where FPS dealers are earning Rs 50,000 by providing additional community services. He also requested all the States/UTs to identify and develop 75 Model FPSs in each district.

There are nearly 40,000 Fair  Price  Shops (FPS) Dealers in the country. FPSs are also commonly called as Ration Shop. For providing a food security system, the government established the  Public Distribution System. It is under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and distribute food and non-food items to the poor section of soceity at subsidised rates.

Diverse choices for doubling income:

In the inaugural address at the conference, Secretary, DFPD stressed the need to build on technological interventions. He mentioned that modern ration shops can enabling a variety of services. The shops can offer more products and services apart from running PDS operations.

DFPD has also written to states to allow ration shop dealers to keep non-PDS items such as Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). FMCGs are non-durable products that sell quickly and at relatively low cost. FMCGs include, milk, fruit and vegetables, toilet paper, soda, etc.

With the One Nation One Ration Card initiative,  beneficiaries  particularly the migrant population can uptake food grains from any FPS in the country through Aadhaar authentication. The system of portability provides ease of access for the beneficiary. DFPD informed that over 3.5 crore portability transactions are taking place across the country.

IIT Delhi and World Food Programme collaboration:

DFPD has taken various initiative to reduce the transport cost and save on food subsidy. DFPD has engaged IIT Delhi and World Food Programme for the optimization of routes to the FPSs. It is to streamline the supply chain systems and movement of food grains under the doorstep delivery of rations to the FPSs.

Three key areas for a future roadmap:

1. Awareness: Communicate clearly to each FPS dealer about the multiple service offerings for them under FPS Transformation. For this, all stakeholders need to work together and collaborate.

2. Capacity building & infrastructure: To work on creating efficient and unique implementation models as per the needs of the FPS dealers. Also, to build their capacity and skills in entrepreneurship and financial services.

3. Investment & finance: To allow for faster development of the initial infrastructure required and working capital for the continued operation of service offerings at the FPSs.

 

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