Smart card holders to get kiryana items,5 kg LPG at fair price shops-Ashu
KI Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
Coming forward for hand holding of the Fair Price Shop owners, the State government would facilitate the ways and means to increment their income, informed Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Punjab in a meeting with the office bearers of Depot Holders Associations at Anaj Bhawan, Chandigarh.
The Minister informed that so far the Fair Price Shop owners distribute only the food grains which fetches them margin money but at the behest of Depot Holders, the Department of Food and Civil Supplies has facilitated their meeting with some companies who would provide them consumables to that they may transform their depots into full fledged Kiryana/Grocery Stores and more articles are made available to Smart Card holders at a reasonable cost.
Bharat Bhushan said that the representatives of Hindustan Unilever Limited, HPMC (Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation. Ltd), Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum have participated in the meeting and shared their offers which include the vast array of consumables, fresh fruit juices and pickles. He said that besides this, the permission has already been granted to sell MARKFED products and 5 Kg LPG cylinders. He said that the companies are willing to work out the modalities with the depot holders and strike a deal with them, with the role of government being galvanising the two.
He said that it has been brought into his notice that the sale of 5 Kg LPG cylinders by depot holders to Rehriwalas and other similar consumers faced some hassles as the local gas agencies poach their customers. This was brought into the immediate notice of the representatives of Indian Oil Corporation who in turn assured to resolve the issue.
Besides the Ration Depot Holders and the representatives of various companies, Anindita Mitra, Director Food and Civil Supplies Department was present on the occasion.
