MARGAO
Secretary Civil Supplies, Sanjit Rodrigues on Thursday said the government would bring changes in the service conduct rules to make an offence if government servants are found wanting in returning back ration cards. He also announced that the government will come out with a scheme for the benefit of fair price shop owners to make the fair price shops economically viable.
Speaking at an interaction with owners of fair price shops at a programme held at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Thursday, Rodrigues said the Central government has insisted on making the fair price shops economically viable through ancillary income. In this respect, he said that the government will provide an amount of Rs 9,500 to the fair price owners under the scheme to tide over the expenses, including labour.
“Around 70,000 government servants have so far surrendered their ration cards. But, there are still many more who have not yet surrendered. The government is thinking of bringing about changes to the service conduct rules to make it an offense,” he said.
On the economic viability of the fair price shops, Rodrigues pointed out that the scheme will pave way for the fair price shops to take CSR, products made by Self Help Groups and general store to increase viability.
Saying that the Centre has capped the commission for fair price shops, the Secretary Civil Supplies, however, said that Goa is giving the highest commission, adding that the new scheme will be implemented by year-end.
On fortified rice, Rodrigues said there is no problem with the fortified rice, saying the variety of rice is being distributed across the State.
