In a move towards advancing Digital India, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, launched a pilot program to onboard fair price shops (FPSs) onto the Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform in the Una and Hamirpur districts of Himachal Pradesh.
The pilot program was initiated virtually across 11 FPSs, with five in Una and six in Hamirpur districts. This marks the first onboarding of fair price shops onto the ONDC platform.
Speaking on the occasion, Chopra said this landmark initiative adds to the continuous efforts of his department in transforming the fair price shops. This effort aims at providing additional avenues of income generation for FPS dealers along with enhancing beneficiary satisfaction.
Furthermore, he emphasized that this initiative offers numerous benefits for FPS dealers, including visibility in the digital marketplace, access to a larger customer base beyond NFSA beneficiaries, and the ability to compete on an equal footing with large retailers and e-commerce platforms.
Moreover, beneficiaries encountering challenges with online purchases can turn to FPS dealers to place orders on their behalf.
He highlighted that the success of the pilot being implemented in Himachal Pradesh will serve as a model for statewide and nationwide adoption in the future. Additionally, he appreciated the support of MicroSave Consulting (MSC) in deploying this pilot program.
Following the launch event, a physical workshop was arranged for FPS dealers in Una and Hamirpur districts. The workshop provided guidance on cataloguing products, managing service orders, and understanding the commission structure on ONDC.
Established on December 31, 2021, ONDC transcends the existing platform-centric digital commerce model, wherein both the buyer and seller must utilize the same platform or application to engage in digital visibility and conduct business transactions.
ONDC, established by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering open e-commerce.
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