NEW DELHI: The Centre is testing a plan that may enable consumers to buy toothbrush, agarbattis or even some consumer durables from fair price shops through the e-commerce channel using Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC), govt backed architecture to counter
Amazon
and Flipkart’s influence in the online marketplace.
The food and public distribution department has launched a pilot programme at fair price shops, which currently dispense grains and other commodities that are part of the public distribution system (
PDS
), in HP’s Una and Hamirpur districts.
Food secretary
Sanjeev Chopra
launched the pilot in 11 fair price shops.
If successful, it is proposed to be expanded to other parts of the state before being taken up on a national basis.
The initiative also marks an expansion of ONDC, which is itself in the initial phase, into the
FPS
arena. The move is meant to help owners of these shops increase their revenue and become a one-stop shop for multiple requirements.
Chopra said the initiative provides numerous benefits for FPS dealers including visibility in the digital marketplace, access to a larger customer base beyond NFSA beneficiaries, and the ability to compete on an equal footing with large retailers and e-commerce platforms. Additionally, beneficiaries who face difficulties in making online purchase can approach the FPS dealer to make online orders on their behalf.
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