Ration shops in Bengal to be turned into 'mini malls'

Kolkata: The state Food and Supplies department has tied up with a leading retailer from the country, with the purpose of converting ration shops across the state into 'mini malls'. The state government's initiative is aimed at helping people get access to products of leading brands, at a price lower than the market rate.

"We have signed an MoU with Future Group at the Bengal Global Business Summit this year, with the objective of ensuring availability of branded products that are sold by the group, in its popular supermarket chain across the state, in the ration shops. We are starting with a pilot project at Barasat in North 24-Parganas soon and will gradually make inroads to the other districts of the state," said state Food and Supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick.

It may be mentioned that the group is already working towards building up a supply chain management at the ration shops in Barasat. They have held a number of meetings with state officials, both at the state level and the district level.

According to a senior official of the department, people from all strata of the society nowadays purchase and use branded products, to ensure that they do not end up buying counterfeit products that have flooded the market.

"So, if we can make branded products like biscuits, oil, spices, soaps, toothpaste etc. available in ration shops, then we hope that the common people will be greatly benefitted," the official added.

The group's list has nearly 700 products of different types that are sold in its supermarket chain. These products will not be supplied to the shops, as consumers who visit the ration shops will probably not go for high priced products. However, branded products of daily utility will surely be in demand.

"The group, in consultation with the dealers and distributors associated with ration shops of respective districts and a survey of their own, will make the final list of the products and will be sending only those products which they feel will be in demand. The space available in the shops will also be taken into consideration before deciding on the products to be sent," a Food department official said.

There are more than 20,000 ration shops across the state. "Our primary objective is to ensure that people get branded products in their very neighbourhood, at a price which will be at least a few rupees lower than that in the market. It will also be a stride in making the ration shops attractive to common people," the official added.