Fair price shops to also retail small LPG cylinders as govt moves to boost financial viability
27 Oct 2021
The government plans to expand the activities and services offerings by Fair Price Shops as part of the efforts to increase the financial viability of FPS system, secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, Sudhanshu Pandey stated in a video conferencing on Wednesday.
Addressing representatives from the ministry of electronics and information technology (MEiTY), Department of Financial Services (DFS), ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC) and all states/UTs, he stressed on the need for taking proactive measures to enhance financial viability of Fair Price Shops.
The CEO of CSC gave a presentation about the various service offerings provided by CSC as also an update on the activities undertaken by CSC to meet and tie up with individual state/UT governments to take this initiative forward. State government representatives appreciated the collaboration with CSC to increase viability of FPS and offered to co-ordinate with CSC to review feasibility according to local needs and requirements.
Secretary, DFPD advised CSC to conduct separate workshops/webinars with different groups of states/UTs based on their current status to provide sensitisation on potential benefits, capacity building of FPS and to assist them in implementation of these initiatives.
Representatives from oil marketing companies appreciated the proposal for retail selling of small LPG cylinders through FPS and informed that necessary support required would be provided for the same in co-ordination with interested state/UT governments.
Representative from Department of Financial Services appreciated the proposal to provide financial services through FPS, extending MUDRA loans to FPS dealers for capital augmentation and informed that necessary support would be provided for the same in coordination with interested state/UT governments.
Secretary, DFPD also mentioned that different state/UTs can take up these initiatives and tailor it to suit their individual requirements. He also advised states/UT to conduct continuous awareness and outreach campaign simultaneously to sensitise FPS dealers on the benefits of these initiatives.