Delhi cabinet gives relief to owners of fair price shops

NEW DELHI: In a major relief to owners of fair price shop, Delhi cabinet on Tuesday approved an increase in margin money by almost 300 percent. In Delhi Cabinet, in its meeting chaired by the CM Arvind Kejriwal approved the Food & Civil Supplies Department's proposal for increase in margin money for 2,254 ration dealers in Delhi from existing Rs 70 per quintal to Rs 200 per quintal of foodgrains.

According to Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain, Delhi is the first state in the country to permit increase in margin money to the ration dealers by almost three times. The minister further said that the decision to increase margin money was taken keeping in view all relevant factors in mind such as daily wages of fair price holders, storage cost, shortage incurred during retail distribution, electricity charges and reasonable commission/profit.

In deciding the increase in margin money, due consideration was also given by the government towards the cost of owning/hiring a space for FPS in various parts of Delhi and the payment of wages by the Fair Price Shop (FPS) owners as applicable to skilled worker. Hussain noted that Delhi government has also started the process of distribution of food grains through e-PoS devices under National Food Security Act, 2013w.e.f. 1st January, 2018 so as to ensure that the ration reaches the entitled beneficiaries timely and accurately. The Minister urged FPS owners to lend their support in running the e-PoS distribution of foodgrains system successfully.

Delhi government is distributing Specified Food Articles to the tune of 3.75 lakh quintals to 72.78 lakhs beneficiaries per month under Targeted Public Distribution System as per National Food Security Act 2013. The Minister expressed hope that increase in margin money and e-PoS distribution system will help in curbing corruption.