FAIR PRICE SHOP DEALERS MEET HELD

October 21, 2024

A Fair Price Shop Dealers Meet for North Goa was held to discuss various aspects of the FPS system in the city today. In his welcome address, Shri Jayant Tari, Director of the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, provided details on the upcoming “Compensation to FPS Dealers” scheme, which aims to enhance the financial viability of Fair Price Shops. This scheme is set to be implemented soon to strengthen the financial system of FPS dealers, he informed.

Shri Tari urged all Fair Price Shop dealers to complete the e-KYC process for their respective ration card beneficiaries by the end of this month, as per instructions from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. He clarified that under the National Security Act; a ration card is a document for purchasing essential commodities through Fair Price Shops under the targeted public distribution system and not a proof of identity or residence. He further acknowledged that many FPS dealers have applied to close their shops due to financial losses, but requested them to wait, as the department will soon implement the compensation scheme.

Shri Tulsidas Dabolkar, Assistant Director, Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, gave a detailed presentation on the online services available for ration card-related issues, including applying for new cards, adding beneficiaries, and changing the head of the family. He also encouraged FPS dealers to assist beneficiaries through Common Service Centres (CSC), which could provide additional income.

Smt. Sunita Bhagat, Research Assistant, presented the scheme for Fair Price Shop dealers, explaining that the cost to the government, after waiving the ePoS rent at Rs. 0.10/kg and adding an ePoS incentive at Rs. 105/ton, amounts to Rs. 10,04,119.18. She also noted that the operating expenses, including wages, electricity, rentals, taxes, thermal rolls, transportation, and handling, are fixed at Rs. 9,500 per FPS.

Earlier, Shri Krishna D. Madaye, South Goa District Manager of CSC, provided details on how FPS dealers can earn additional commissions through various CSC services.

Best Fair Price Shop awards were presented to fair shops that actively participated in taluka-level cleanliness drives under the “Swachhata Hi Seva” initiative.

Also present on the occasion was Smt Asha Vernekar Founder, Goa Livelihood Forum and Fair Price Shop dealers.

Smt Priyanka Toraskar Kudnekar ,Sub Inspector, Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs compered the programme.

DI/INF/NB/AXP/AS/2024/721