Lok Sabha Question No. 2507 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-21
Subject: Strengthening the Functioning of FPS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2507

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 21sT DECEMBER, 2022

## STRENGTHENING THE FUNCTIONING OF FPS

## 2507 . SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

CONSUMER PUBLIC

Will the Minister of AFFAIRS, FOOD AND be pleased to state:

- the steps taken by the Government to strengthen the functioning of Fair
- (a) Price Shops (FPS) and ensure guaranteed income of the dealer;
- whether the Government proposes for distribution of LPG in rural areas
- (b) through fair price shops;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes for fair price shop dealers to function
- as direct procurement agents; and
- (e) if so, the details of initiatives taken for digitalization of ration distribution system?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): As per provisions of the Food Security (Assistance to State Government) (Amendment) Rules, 2022 with effect from 1st April, 2022, the rate of fair   price  shop dealers margin has been enhanced to Rs.90 per quintal for General category States and Rs.180 per quintal for Special category States: In addition to this, additional dealers margin at the rate of Rs.21 per   quintal for General category States and Rs.26 per quintal for Special category States is provided for distribution of foodgrains through ePoS devices. The FPS Dealers Margin and Additional Dealers Margin for ePoS devices are shared between Central and StatelUt Government on 50.50 basis with General Category States and 75.25 basis with Special Category StatesIUTs: As per the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS )Control Order 2015, operational responsibility of Fair Price Shops including issuance of licenses and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc: lies with the respective State Governments. Further, the StatelUt Governments are empowered to allow sale of commodities other than the foodgrains at the FPS to improve the viability of fair price operations:

- (b) & (c): As part of efforts to improve the viability of FPSs, Government of India has taken various initiatives and requested all StatelUt Governments to implement additional services at including Common Service Centre (CSC)   services, banking services through tie-up with banksl corporate BCs, banking and citizen-centric services of India Post Payment Bank (IPPB), retail sale of small (Skg) LPG cylinders and sale of other commoditiesl general store items etcOil Marketing Companies (OMCs) agreed to provide all necessary support for selling mini LPG Cylinders through FPSs to interested StatelUT Governments.
- (d): Sufficient number of procurement centres are opened by State procuring agencies and keeping in view the procurement potential and geographical spread of the State concerned: Large number of temporary purchase centres, in addition to the existing Mandis and depotsl godowns, are also established at points for the convenience of the farmers. FCI; key
- (e): Government of India, in association with all StatesUTs, has implemented a scheme on 'End-to-End Computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) Operations' including automation of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) to transparency and efficiency in the allocation and distribution of highly subsidised foodgrains to beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act; 2013 (NFSA): So nearly 5.33 Lakh out of total 5.34 Lakh FPSs in the country have been automated by installing ePoS devices. bring far,