6,500 Anna Village Malls to be set up

Amaravati: The State government is taking steps for setting up ‘Anna Village Malls’ in all 29,000 fair price shops across the State in a phased manner. Addressing a review meeting on civil supplies department at Secretariat on Friday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has given green signal to set up 6,500 village malls in the first phase and said the malls would be arranged with the partnership of Reliance and Future groups.

He said ration shop dealers would be given 50 per cent of total investment for village malls. The State government would bear 25 per cent and another 25 per cent of investment would be obtained through Mudra loans, he added.

Ration dealers must bear the remaining 50 per cent of expenditure. Naidu said the malls would be needed 200 sqft of space and products of DWACRA groups, MEPMA and farm produces procured by the State government from farmers would also be available in the malls.

The Chief Minister also suggested the officials that white card holders who would not want to take subsidy rice can be allowed to buy other groceries in the malls for the same value.

He also directed to fill up the vacant 4,599 dealer posts immediately and take measures to distribute half kg of sugar to white cardholders giving 50 per cent of subsidy on market price. He also said white kerosene oil should be distributed to Rajaka, Kurakula and fisheries community.