Minister for Cooperation Sellur K.Raju on Friday said efforts were under way to identify land belonging to Chennai Corporation and other government departments to establish fair price shops. “The MPLADS and MLA local area development funds will be used for this. In the city, only 20 per cent of fair price shops function from our own premises. We also want to open more fair price shops as the number of family cards in some of the shops is more than what they can handle,” he said.
The Minister added that the government was thinking of selling branded items in ration shops and increase the salaries of the sales personnel.
According to a press release, Mr.Raju, who conducted surprise checks at ration shops in Abhiramapuram, Adyar and Thiruvanmiyur on Friday, suspended two employees for not returning the family card of Mahesh, who belongs to the narikurava community. The Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection Agri S.S. Krishnamoorthy warned fair price shop employees against committing irregularities.
A press release said, Mr.Krishnamoorthy inspected Chintamani Cooperative fair price shops in Villivakkam and Sidco Nagar. Following the inspection, he suspended one employee and transferred another employee.
