Srinagar, Sep 22 (KNS): The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) has established a wide network of Fair Price Shops (FPS) across Jammu and Kashmir, Minister Satish Sharma informed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Sharma, who holds the portfolios of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, and ARI and Trainings, was replying to a question raised by legislator Hasnian Masoodi.

The minister said the criteria for establishment of Fair Price Shops have been laid down under S.O. 41 dated January 19, 2023.

He said there are currently no uncovered areas in the Pampore Assembly constituency.

Giving the category-wise details of ration cards and beneficiaries in the constituency, Sharma said 2,679 ration cards covering 10,163 beneficiaries are registered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), while 15,470 ration cards covering 67,157 beneficiaries fall under the Priority Households (PHH) category.

Another 9,776 ration cards, covering 40,457 beneficiaries, are under the Non-Priority Households (NPHH) category, he said.

The minister said the department is examining the requirement for opening new Fair Price Shops across the Union Territory, along with rationalisation of existing entities, with reference to their viability, number of ration cards tagged, geographical accessibility and adequate coverage in remote and tribal areas.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Meanwhile, the Government of India has launched the umbrella scheme SARTHAK-PDS, subsuming assistance for intra-state movement, handling and FPS dealers' margin, as well as technology reforms under SMART-PDS, Sharma informed the House.

He said the scheme provides revised norms of Central assistance towards transportation, handling and assured income for FPS dealers, which substantially improves the economic viability of Fair Price Shops.

Accordingly, proposals for new FPSs will be assessed on the basis of viability under the assured income model, decongestion of over-tagged shops and compliance with technology parameters, including electronic Point of Sale (ePoS), integration with electronic weighing scales and Aadhaar authentication, the minister said.

Replying to a supplementary question raised by the legislator, Sharma said a committee to consider relaxation of criteria for areas with scattered populations has already been constituted.(KNS)