Lok Sabha Question No. 4364 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Jan Poshan Kendra and Jana Aushadhi Prakalp
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Jagadish Shettar

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

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4364

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH, 2026

## JAN POSHAN KENDRA AND JANA AUSHADHI PFLAKALP

## 4364. SHRI JA(,ADISH  SHETTAR:

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

- (a): whether  any measures are being  contemplated  to  include  Schemes like  Jan Poshan Kendra, Jana Aushadhi  Prakalp etc. with  the Fair Price Shop Dealers so as to make their business viable  and income  sustainable;
- (b): if  so, the details thereof;
- (c): whether the Government has taken any initiative  to sell rice and wheat under the Open Market  Sale Scheme (Domestic)  to help the general public  to buy a Government specified rates through Fair Price shops; and
- (d): if  so, the details thereoF

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a) and (b):  Department of Food and Public Distribution  has collaborated with the Ministry  of Skill Development &  Entrepreneurship (MSDE)  to  enhance the capacity and confidence of  Fair  Price Shop (FPS) dealers by equipping them with  essential entrepreneurship  and business management skills. Under this collaboration, NIESBUD  (an autonomous institute under MSDE) has developed  a specialized training  programme for  FPS dealers covering  digital  and financial  literacy,  e-commerce, retail management, and basic nutrition.

To date, approximately 325 FPS  dealers across nine States-Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar-have  undergone this training. As a result, 90 FPS outlets have been converted into Jan Poshan Kendras (JPKs) across five  cities:  Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Indore,  improving  their  commercial viability  and community outreach.

The Pradhan Mantri  Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana was launched by the Government of India to make quality generic medicines available at affordable prices for all  citizens. Under this scheme, special outlets called Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs)  are opened  across the country. These Kendras provide  medicines that are about 50% to  80% cheaper than branded medicines, helping reduce healthcare expenses for patients.

The  government has adopted a  franchise model  for  opening of  JAKs  by  inviting online applications from  individual  entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, societies,  trusts, firms, private companies, etc. through the website www. janaushadhi.gov.in. Any  individual having D. Pharma. or B. Pharma. qualification  either herself/himself or any individual  or organisation who has employed a person with  such qualification  as a pharmacist for obtaining drug licence from the State Licensing Authority  concerned is eligible  to open a Jan Aushadhi Kendra.

(c) and (d): Under  Open Market  Sales Scheme (Domestic)  [OMSS(D)],  wheat and rice are sold under various categories.  With  a view to provide atta (wheat flour)  and rice to general consumers  at subsidized rates, Bharat Atta  and Bharat Rice were launched  under OMSS(D). These commodities are sold to  general public by  central cooperative  organizations,  NAFED,  NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar through their own stores/ mobile vans and/or E-commerce/ big chain retailers only.

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