Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet has approved an amendment to the Odisha Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016, extending the deadline for replacing private fair price shop dealers with institutional agencies by one year, till September 30, 2027.
The decision aims to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the Public Distribution System (PDS) while facilitating the gradual transition from privately operated fair price shops to institutional management.
The amendment revises Clause 4(6) of the Odisha Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016, which was formulated in accordance with the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. The existing provision was valid until September 30, 2026.
The state government considered the extension necessary to avoid potential disruptions in the distribution of essential commodities, as an abrupt removal of all private dealers could affect the delivery mechanism.
Odisha currently operates 11,706 Fair Price Shops across the state. Of these, 4,963 are managed by private dealers, while 4,026 are run by Gram Panchayats and 2,256 by Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs).
The remaining outlets include 191 operated by other Self-Help Groups, 242 by cooperative societies and 28 by other organisations.
The revised deadline will provide additional time for replacing private dealers with institutional operators without affecting the functioning of the state’s public distribution network.
