Modernization of Fair Price Shops: A Case of Gujarat

Abstract

S K Nanda was evaluating the performance of the exercise on modernizing the Fair Price Shops (FPS) in Gujarat as a Principal Secretary, Civil Supplies, Government of Gujarat. He had undertaken an initiative to make FPS as the major retailing arm of the government. With 16000 outlets in the state, it was by far the largest chain of stores that reached the grassroots and population that was not being serviced by any properly organized system. The exercise that started in 2004 had been implemented to 4000 outlets across the state. The results were positive but all FPS store were not performing as expected. Nanda was pondering over the report that was indicating some of reasons. Also, he was due to be transferred to another department and hence he was also evaluating the sustainability of the changes brought under the scheme.