Latest news with #AnnapurnaBhawan
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Annapurna Bhawans to boost ration distribution
Lucknow: To improve ration distribution in the state, the govt would construct up to 100 Annapurna Bhawans in each district. The Annapurna Bhawans, to be developed as model fair price shops, will be built in villages in collaboration with gram panchayats and urban local bodies in cities. In urban areas, buildings will follow the cluster model and include a ration shop, a Common Service Centre and a dedicated waiting hall for beneficiaries. For 2023-24 and 2024-25, the govt set a target to build 75 Annapurna Bhawans in each district. In line with this, 3,534 buildings are already completed and nearly 2,000 are under construction. "To strengthen PDS, the govt approved funding for Annapurna Bhawan through fiscal savings. In addition to MGNREGA, funds from the State Finance Commission, MP and MLA funds, Purvanchal and Bundelkhand Development Funds, and other eligible central or state schemes can now be used for this purpose," said a govt spokesperson. In situations where funding is not available, the department of food and civil supplies will allocate funds, drawn from its savings. Provisions have also been made for their maintenance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The official said since funds for these buildings will come from multiple sources, a unified framework has been developed for land selection, operations and rent. District magistrates have appointed nodal officers to monitor the work. A land selection committee chaired by SDM and comprising tehsildar, block development officer, assistant engineer and regional food officer is responsible for site selection.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
5,500 Annapurna Bhawans to have fair price shops, common service centres
Lucknow: Around 5,500 upcoming 'Annapurna Bhawans' will be a blend of fair price shops and common service centres (CSC) provisioning essential govt and non-govt services to citizens in rural and urban centres of Uttar Pradesh. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The key feature will be the hallmark of these centres which would be constructed across all districts – the state govt plans to set up at least 75 Annapurna Bhawans in each district. The development comes a week after the cabinet gave its nod to step up the construction of Annapurna Bhawan by utilizing funds and sources other than Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). These centres may now be set up using MP/MLA Local Area Development Fund, tourism development fund, Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi or any other govt-approved scheme. The feature comes as an add-on after the successful implementation of PM Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana, Centre's flagship scheme that was put in place at the peak of coronavirus pandemic. The state govt has already set up around 3,500 Annapurna Bhawans. "Another 2,000 are in the pipeline," food and civil supplies minister Satish Sharma told TOI. Currently, there are around 80,000 fair price shops in the state. Sharma said that selected shops would be shifted to Annapurna Bhawan free of cost. "The objective of the scheme is to improve the accessibility of fair price shops and ensure their transparent operation," he said. In a communique to all divisional commissioners, principal secretary, food and civil supplies, Ranveer Prasad said that each Annapurna Bhawan would be constructed over an area of around 484 sq feet. The shop will comprise two sections – one for the fair price shop, the other for CSC. These centres will also have a 96 sq ft verandah, which would serve as a waiting area. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These centres may also be constructed in clusters in the urban areas after due approval from the district magistrates. The district administration will choose the working agency – gram panchayat in rural and development authority in urban areas.
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Fair price shops to function through 37 Annapurna Bhawans in Varanasi
In order to maintain transparency regarding distribution of ration through fair price shops, the government has built 37 Annapurna Bhawan in the district which are equipped with e-POS machines and e-weighing scales. These multipurpose buildings have been built in the district for operating fair price shops and to check the problem of under-weighing. Built by the state government under MNREGA scheme, these bhavans have a storage room and a distribution room. These structures have been constructed with an objective to make the public distribution system more effective and ensure stability of the ration shops even after the ration dealer is changed. The fair price shops will be operated at these bhavans. Kotedar (ration dealers) will operate the fair price shops from these buildings. The shop owners will not have to pay any rent to run the shops. Chief development officer, Varanasi Himanshu Nagpal said that Annapurna Bhawan is such a multipurpose building from where the ration dealers will be able to operate Jan Suvidha Kendra along with fair price ration shops. All Annapurna Bhawans will have e-POS machines with e-weighing scale, so that the underweighing of ration can be stopped and the card holders can get the full ration given by the government. District supply officer KB Singh said that Annapurna Bhawan is being constructed at special places for fair price ration shops and is being given to the ration dealers/ fair price shop owners. With the construction of Annapurna Bhawan, the ration dealers are getting convenience along with saving money. The district supply officer said that there are 1,315 fair price shops in Varanasi. This year the target was to build 37 Annapurna buildings, out of which 21 have been completed, while 16 Annapurna buildings built last year are being operated. A total of 37 Annapurna buildings have been constructed in the district so far. According to this year's target, the construction of the remaining 16 Annapurna buildings will be completed soon.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
To streamline food grain distribution, UP to construct 75-100 Annapurna Bhawans in each district
Lucknow: In a bid to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) and enhancing the accessibility of food grains through ration shops, the UP cabinet on Tuesday announced the construction of ration shops/Annapurna Bhawan using alternate financial means. Besides Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), these buildings will be constructed under various central and state govt schemes such as Sansad Nidhi, Vidhayak Nidhi, Tourism Development Funds, and Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi, or through any other govt-approved scheme. The construction aims to ensure the smooth and permanent availability of food grains to eligible cardholders. In areas where such funding schemes are unavailable, arrangements will be made through the department of food and civil supplies by utilizing departmental savings. The govt has planned an annual construction of 75 to 100 Annapurna Bhawan across each district, depending on local needs and feasibility. Along with construction a provision has been made for the maintenance and upkeep of these buildings to ensure their long-term utility. This initiative is expected to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the PDS, especially in rural and underdeveloped regions, by providing permanent structures for ration distribution.
