Private company to run fair price shops in Rajasthan

In its initial phase, the PPP-driven project will have the Future Group running and managing 5,000 fair price shops across the state under the name Annapurna Bhandar. They will sell FMCG products like shampoo, talcum powder, hair oil and ketchup, besides the usual fair price shop products.

In fact, five shops in Jaipur and one in Udaipur are already being run on this model, selling multi-brand FMCG items to ration card holders.

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“This will prove to be the biggest entreprenurial venture in the country for FPS dealers,” Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said.

Future Group head Biyani said he was proud to be associated with the Rajasthan government in this endeavour. “We are committed to provide the benefits of modern retail to the people of Rajasthan at a fair price,” he said.

The Rajasthan State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation had invited tenders for the project and the Future Group emerged as the successful bidder, said Mahavir Prasad Sharma, chairman of the corporation.

PDS is one of several government-run services being privatised by the Rajasthan government. The others include government schools, primary health centres and Rajasthan Tourism properties.