The introduction of the Annapurna Food Packet Yojana, which involves the distribution of spices, pulses, and oil through approximately 25,000 fair price shops across Rajasthan, has led to widespread disorder and confusion at these outlets. According to both scheme officials and fair price shop owners, the prevailing disorder can be attributed to three primary factors. Initially, the subpar quality of the food items stands as a concern. Additionally, the insufficient supply from the government fails to meet the demands of all beneficiaries. Lastly, the absence of coordination in implementing the scheme is exacerbated by the conflicting oversight between the cooperative department and the food and civil supplies department, responsible for fair price shops.

"We have exactly 25,300 fair price shops across the state. In the last few days, the quantity of items the government has supplied is far less than the number of beneficiaries, at each of these stores Everyday there is ruckus at the stores, as deprived customers blame the shopkeepers." said Dimple Sharma, the state (Rajasthan) president and the national vice president of All India Fair Price Shop Dealers Federation.

The escalation of daily commotion reached an alarming level on Thursday, resulting in a fair price shop owner in Bikaner district being subjected to physical altercations from customers. Adding to the quantity predicament is the issue of inadequate quality in both the food items and their packaging. In multiple districts, the government has been forced to retract stocks due to either quality grievances or instances of tampered packaging. It's important to note that if even a single item within a package is tampered with, the distribution of the entire package becomes untenable.

Food Items Provided Under This Scheme

• Recipients of the Annapurna Food Yojana receive provisions such as 1 kg salt, 1 kg sugar, 1 kg dal, 100g chilli powder, 100g coriander powder, 50g turmeric powder, and a 1-litre quantity of soybean oil.
• Additionally, these same beneficiaries are eligible for an allocation of 1 kg of wheat as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act.
• The task of procuring and disbursing supplies for each district through fair price shops falls under the responsibility of a collaborative team consisting of district administration officials and co-operative department representatives.

Food items sourced in multiple districts exhibit subpar quality, often accompanied by tampered packaging. In Churu, the government took the step of recalling the entire stock due to these concerns. The insufficient supply from the government fails to meet the needs of the beneficiaries, exacerbating the demand-supply disparity. Moreover, the fair price shop system encounters server issues, resulting in the rejection of numerous transactions on POS machines. This glitch leads to the unfortunate deprivation of beneficiaries, even when ample stocks are present.

Source: Times Of India