INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: At least one in every 10 provision stores in the country are likewise working as Common Services Centres (CSC), providing
different services to people
While Jharkhand leads amongst states and UTs with an optimum of 6,632 ration shops providing these services, in addition to the distribution
of foodgrains under the National Food Security Act, Maharashtra and Gujarat have 6,574 and 6,188 such ration stores respectively.Union food
secretary Sanjeev Chopra said presently nearly 60,000 out of the 5.3 lakh provision shops are providing services to individuals like the
The services supplied consist of using for government files, payment of utility expenses and sale of insurance policies
On the effect of ration shops operating as CSC too, the food secretary said this is giving excellent lead to Gujarat where the provision
store owners are making practically Rs 50,000 per month.Chopra said the government is exploring different choices to make ration stores
vibrant, modern-day and practical by allowing them to use more products and services apart from running PDS operations
He stated the reasonable cost shops (FPS) or ration shops, which are spread throughout towns and towns need to move with time and become
They might likewise be banking correspondents.The food secretary stated his ministry has written to states to enable provision shop dealers
to keep non-PDS items such as FMCG products and numerous states have enabled them
Sources said there are some legal problems as in some states such as Bihar the sale of anything other than the PDS items is not allowed
We are talking about with every state and finding the escape
No state would stop such an effort to make the ration stores dynamic and viable, stated an official.Meanwhile, to decrease the
transportation cost and save on food subsidy, Chopra said the federal government has actually engaged IIT Delhi and World Food Programme for
optimisation of paths to these provision stores from depots
He added that the Centre has enhanced the dealerships margins and likewise encouraged states and UTs to pitch in on their part.The food
secretary stated the federal government has actually likewise started an initiative to establish 75 modern provision shops in each district
These might have waiting area, CCTV video cameras, toilets and drinking water centers among others.
