To advance the transformation of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Kushal Bharat, Viksit Bharat, and Digital India, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
In the first MoU, the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DoF&PD) collaborated with the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). This partnership aims to address skill development challenges faced by FPS dealers, particularly focusing on enhancing digital literacy, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial skills. The MoU was formalised on March 14, 2024, at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi, in the presence of key dignitaries including Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary of the Department of Food & Public Distribution, emphasised the importance of empowering FPS owners with entrepreneurial capabilities to expand services, improve customer satisfaction, and explore new business avenues. Furthermore, enhancing digital and entrepreneurial skills among FPS owners facilitates efficient technology utilisation, operational streamlining, and customer-centric practices.
In another significant development, an MoU between DoF&PD and SIDBI was inked on March 15, 2024, at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. This partnership aims to provide working capital assistance to FPSs through SIDBI’s GST Sahay application, thereby enabling FPSs to operate on a credit model for selling non-PDS commodities.
Shri Prakash Kumar, Deputy Managing Director of SIDBI, highlighted the organisation’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship and supporting micro and small businesses. SIDBI will utilise its digital infrastructure to create a customised credit program for FPSs using the GST Sahay Platform.
These MoUs mark a significant breakthrough in capacity building and investment opportunities for FPSs in India, ultimately enhancing employability and livelihoods for FPS dealers.
