Now ration card holders will also get hand wash, tea, coffee powder, soap and such items. State Government has granted permission to ration shops for fair price shops in this regard on ‘temporary’ basis.
For years, there has been demand from the ration card holders to make available the items including bathing soap and detergent soap, handwash, washing soda, shampoo, tea power, coffee powder etc at
ration shops.
However, as these goods are available in open market at differential price depending upon the market situation and brands and quantity, the Government had
not granted permission to ration shops to keep these items.
However, especially during COVID-19 pandemic period since last year, those having ration cards again raised the demand.
Finally, now, Maharashtra Government’s Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Department has issued direction in this regard allowing fair price shops to keep these items.
Previously, the department had allowed some more goods available in open market, to be sold at ration shops, apart from food grains enlisted for targeted public distribution system.
Tatoba Kolekar, Joint Secretary, of the department has issued a communique in this regard to all Deputy Commissioners (Supply) and all District Supply Officers in the State. As per the said communication, the permission has been granted ‘temporarily’ and changes will be made.from time to time in the directions in accordance with changes in public distribution system.
As far as commission to the fair price shop owners is concerned, it will be a matter between them and the distributor of respective companies.
“There shall be no Government intervention in this regard,” the communication signed by Kolekar made it clear.
