PONDA
So, why have fair price shops become unattractive to shop owners? According to the Civil Supplies Department, a number of factors have been at play in Ponda taluka. At present, Ponda taluka has about 12 functioning shops. Twenty-one of these were shut down for different reasons. “The department has sought applications in Sokre-Shiroda and Queula (Kavale), where the fair price shops have closed down. Unfortunately, nobody is ready to run these shops, even if we encourage them,” said a source at the Ponda Civil Supplies Department. “When there was a demand, we tried to invite applications by giving good support. But nobody come forward,” said the source. Speaking to the Goan, Sanjay Satarkar of Khandepar informed that the FPS in his area has shut down. “We have been shifted to the FPS in Usgao. As a result, we are forced to travel 4-5 kms to buy essential commodities. The government should do something to help us and offer the FPS to any other interested person,” Satarkar said. Besides the lack of interest among shopkeepers, malpractices have also led to the closure of some shops in the taluka. In 2013, the FPS at Azorde-Borim was temporarily shut after Ponda police had raided the premises following allegations that it was selling subsidized rice and wheat in the black market. Ration-card holders from the Azorde were eventually shifted 3 kms away to the Borim FPS, where they continue to collect their supplies till date. Another problem pertaining to these shops has been the issue of litigation. “The case pertaining to the Azorde FPS is sub-judice and hence the CSD has not invited a fresh request from this area. If the person accused wins the case, he will stake claim to the FPS,” the CSD source added. The action against the Azorde FPS has already caused inconvenience to residents in the area. “Since the last three years, we go to Borim to buy our essential commodities. We were told that it is a temporary adjustment. But till today, nothing has been done in this regard,” remarked Vishwanti Naik, a housewife from Tishem. Asked why shopkeepers were reluctant to continue operation, Satish Naik from Betqui-Borim, said: “The business wasn t profitable and hence I surrendered my license a decade ago. At that time, the profit margins were very low and there were instances where people bought commodities on credit.”
