24,795 fair price shops begin distribution of commodities in Andhra Pradesh

Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Nadendla Manohar distributing commodities at a fair price shop in Pithapuram town on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Nadendla Manohar on Sunday claimed that an annual expenditure of ₹385 crore could be saved by reviving the fair price shops under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Andhra Pradesh. 

Mr. Manohar launched the distribution of commodities through fair price shops in Pithapuram town in Kakinada district, marking the revival of the fair price shops across the State on Sunday. 

“The distribution of commodities has kicked-started at 24,795 fair price shops of the total 29,761 shops on Sunday. As many as 1.46 crore families can get their ration from any fair price shop across the State,” said Mr. Manohar. 

The Civil Supplies Department will deliver the commodities at the doorstep of 15.6 lakh elderly people and the physically-challenged before the 5^th of every month. The fair price shops will have to be open from 1st to to 15^th of every month.  

“All the fair price shops will soon be brought under the vigil of the CC camera surveillance system and QR code will be made available at the shops for the beneficiaries to register complaints,” he said. 

Civil Supplies Department Commissioner Sourabh Gaur, Kakinada district Collector S. Shan Mohan, erstwhile East Godavari District Central Cooperative Bank Chairman Tummala Ramaswamy, Kakinada Rural MLA Pantham Nanaji, and Civil Supplies Corporation Chairman Thota Sudheer were among those present.

Published - June 01, 2025 06:35 pm IST