J&K to get 4388 new Fair Price Shops

Jammu and Kashmir will get 4,388 new fair price shops, the state government informed the Legislative Council today.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Chaudhary Zulfkar Ali said the government has sanctioned 4,388 new Fair Price Shops (FPS) which will be opened on commission basis in the state.
Replying to a question by Dr Shehnaz Ganaie in the Upper House, he said at present 5,970 sale depots and FPSs are existing across the state and no Sale Depot-FPS has been opened during the current financial year so far.
Ali, however, said 4,388 FPSs have been sanctioned by the government to be opened on commission basis.

He said the criterion set by the government would be strictly followed while setting up these new FPSs.
Giving details about procurement and sale of rice, wheat and atta from Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Minister said under National Food Security Act (NFSA), government is procuring rice at Rs three per kg and wheat at Rs two per kg for priority category including Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household(PHH).

The same is provided to the consumers at the same price, while for PHH category rice and wheat is sold at Rs 15 and Rs 12 per kg respectively, while Atta is sold at Rs 13 per kg.

He said the government is procuring rice at Rs 8.30 per kg and wheat at Rs 6.10 per kg from FCI.
The Minister further stated that 2.56 lakh families have been covered under AAY, 10.93 under PHH and 8.23 under NPHH taking the total numberof people provided ration under these categories toover 1.19 crore.
Ali said under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) rice is procured from FCI at the rate of Rs 24 per kg and sold to the consumers at Rs 15 per kg, while wheat is procured at Rs 16 to Rs 24 per kg and sold at Rs 12 per kg.

He said similarly Atta is also being procured at Rs 16 to Rs 24 and sold at the rate of Rs 13 per kg.