SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has a total of 6,627 Fair Price Shops (FPS) functioning under the Public Distribution System, with a clear dominance of privately operated outlets over government-run sale depots across all 20 districts of the Union Territory, official data shows.
Of the total network, 2,885 Fair Price Shops are located in the Jammu division and 3,742 in the Kashmir division, reflecting the geographical spread of the ration distribution system across the region.
In the Jammu division, district-wise data indicates that private FPS outnumber government sale depots in every district. Jammu district has 788 shops, including 715 private and 73 government-run depots. Samba has 125 shops, with 110 private and 15 government. Kathua reports 286 shops, including 251 private and 35 government outlets.
Udhampur has 177 shops, of which 152 are private and 25 government-run, while Reasi has 189 shops with 164 private and 25 government. Rajouri records 479 shops, including 451 private and 28 government depots. Poonch has 187 shops, with 167 private and 20 government.
Doda accounts for 288 shops, including 243 private and 45 government-run, while Kishtwar has 132 shops with 106 private and 26 government depots. Ramban reports 153 shops, including 127 private and 26 government outlets.
In the Kashmir division, although aggregate figures show 3,742 Fair Price Shops, the same structural pattern persists across districts, including Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara, where private dealers form the backbone of the distribution network, supplemented by a smaller number of government-operated sale depots.
Officials said the government is considering the opening of new Fair Price Shops across the Union Territory in accordance with the Jammu and Kashmir Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2023. The framework provides for establishing shops at the level of each panchayat, municipal ward or urban local body, based on population norms and accessibility.
The policy also envisages ensuring that beneficiaries are served within a radius of 1.5 to 2 kilometres, with location decisions to be taken by designated committees to improve coverage and efficiency.
The data underscores the scale of reliance on private participation in the public distribution system, even as authorities move towards expansion and rationalisation of the Fair Price Shop network to strengthen last-mile delivery across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
