PANAJI
The Goa government’s delay to take up doorstep delivery of food grains to the Fair Price Shops (FPS) across the State has forced the Central government to keep on hold nearly Rs 4 crore commission cum subsidy of 450 FPS dealers under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKY) for over a year now.
The Directorate of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, confirms that the proposal, under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is in the final stage of implementation.
Reeling under financial burden, several hundred FPS dealers have proposed to close down their distribution system and have already approached the government with the same.
In a bid to alleviate Covid distress, the PMGK Anna Yojana was initially announced for a three-month period (April-June 2020) and was extended several times, with Central implementing a seventh phase that will continue for next five years from January 1, 2024.
A senior official confirmed that under the scheme, free food grains are provided to the beneficiaries under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH). FPS entitled to get commission of Rs 3 per kg of rice.
“Under the National Food Security Act, it is mandatory to have door-step-delivery of food grains to all FPS across all talukas. We are in the final stage of implementing it. Pending implementation, the Centre has not released Rs four crore financial support to FPS,” official said.
Official admitted that delay in releasing the commission has forced many FPS dealers to face financial losses, as per them and hence they have written to the department requesting to allow closure of shops.
The Department had in October, last year, invited bids to deliver the food grains at the door steps of the fair price shops; however, lack of response forced them to initiate a fresh process.
As of now FPS owners used to lift the food grains from taluka godowns. The FPS operators in the past had even protested not to lift the quota claiming they are facing losses in the transportation and labour cost besides food grains handling cost.
“We have already recommended to the government proposing to provide operational expenses to the tune of Rs 9,500 per FPS per month and this includes transportation cost too,” official said.
