In Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district, India’s first Annapurna Super Market has been opened, in a village called Bhartault. This Super Market will distribute food grains through the ‘Public Distribution System’ and provide other services to the villagers as well. Now most of the government facilities related to villagers will be made available under one roof.
The brain behind this ground breaking initiative is 2011 batch IAS officer and Divisional Commissioner of Bareilly, Ms Saumya Agarwal and 2015 batch IAS officer and VC of Bareilly Development Authority, Mr. Jogindra Singh. These two officers designed and successfully implemented the pilot project.
In the first phase, a total of 52 such super markets have been opened in 52 villages in four districts in Bareilly divisions. Fifteen shops have been opened in three districts of the division Shahjahanpur, Badayun and Bareilly, and 7 shops have been opened in Pilibhit. And, 75 more shops will be opened in every district in the next phase.
Indian Masterminds interacted with Bareilly’s Divisional Commissioner Ms. Saumya Agarwal to know more about this initiative.
THE SUPER MARKET
This project was started by Ms. Agarwal in May this year. IAS officer Mr. Jogindra Singh designed the whole project and played a crucial role in implementing it efficiently in all 4 districts of Bareilly division. This super market not only distributes food grains, but also works like a common service centre for the villagers. There will also be a general store in this supermarket where all household items will be available.
Many government representatives associated with the facilities available at the village and block levels will be present here, who will solve the problems of the people at one place. Banking, IT related facilities help centre for self-help groups are also present in this place.
An Annapurna centre has also been set up this super store, where citizens will get benefits of various government schemes. All government schemes like ration card, Aadhaar card, identity card, pan card, pension etc., will be operated under one roof.
Ms. Agarwal, said, “Ration shops used to run on Kotedar’s houses earlier. This does not bring transparency and created false image that government has no special role in quota distribution to villages. It led to corruption as well. There are thousands of complaints against Kotedars. That’s why these markets have been made and many facilities provided under one roof.”
HOW IT WAS BUILT
Recently, Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. DS Mishra, an IAS officer of 1984 batch, inspected the store and praised the initiative a lot.
He said, “This super market has been specially prepared from the budget of MNREGA and Gram Nidhi at a total cost of ₹8.5 lakh in 52 square meters, keeping in view the development of the village. This is the first innovation of its kind in the country. Apart from general essential commodities, the online services related to Jan Suvidha Kendra are also being provided in this store.”
He also said that a proposal has been sent by the Government of India to open such stores in other states as well.
Now, bill payment of 5 kg LPG cylinder, e-stamp, micro ATM, PM Vani WiFi, fire extinguisher, first aid box, farmer registration, general store goods will be all available at one place in the Annapurna store that is being developed as a rural mall. Mr. Mishra also congratulated the district team for this impressive innovation.
IMPLEMENTATION
Till now, the entire distribution of quota ration used to go to the Kotedar’s house and he used to distribute the quota as per his own wishes. This used to bring a lot of complaints and people used to allege that Kotedar was rigging. But, now, all that will stop. The entire quota ration and other items will be publicly available at the shop. And its distribution will take place under the supervision of the public.
The rate chart will be displayed and a board will mention what is available and what is not and when it will be available. There will be complete transparency.
BENEFITS
So far, the response has been very good and people are happy with this initiative. Similar super markets will be built in all villages in all 4 districts now, after the success of the pilot project.
Ms. Agarwal said, “This will benefit people in a big way. We are also getting a lot of applications now from people of the other villages, demanding opening of Annapurna Shops in their area.”
At the same time, this initiative will also increase employment avenues because there will be need for people, other than a Kotedar, to run these shops and the facility desks smoothly.
The officer further said, “The Government of India has appreciated our model and sent it to other states for replication. While the state government has asked for the setting up of such shops in every district.”
