TN to introduce UPI payment mode in PDS shops

CHENNAI: In a bid to facilitate easy payments in Public Distribution System (PDS) shops, the State Cooperation Department on Friday announced that UPI mode of payment will be introduced in the PDS shops.

"UPI mode of payment including Google Pay and Paytm will initially be introduced in select PDS shops and then will be extended to all the shops across the State. Steps are taken to convert 10 PDS shops in each district into model PDS shops," said Minister for Cooperation I Periyasamy, in a statement.

He also said that steps are taken to sell 5 kilograms, 2 kilograms of cylinders to be supplied by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in PDS shops.

Steps are taken to store rice, wheat and sugar gunny bags in PDS shops on iron pallets instead of keeping them on a plain floor and to sell the essentials such as rice, wheat and sugar in steel containers instead of plastic containers.

The Minister further said that if there are empty spaces near the PDS shops instructions have been issued to construct warehouses to store essential food supplies with the capacity of 10 to 50 metric tonnes.

Orders have been issued to obtain certificates such as Quality Control Management certificate ISO-9000, security in supply chain and management and storage certificate ISO-28,000 and FSSAI for storing essential food supplies.

Minister further said that out of 33,377 PDS shops run by the Cooperation department, 6,981 shops are functioning in rental buildings and the state government has announced to construct 300 shops every year to shift them to own buildings.

Out of the 22,273 PDS workers majority are women and so in all the PDS shops to be constructed toilets will be constructed.