A FAIR PRICE SHOP

1. Introduction. 2. Description. 3. Advantages. 4. Disadvantages. 5. Conclusion.

1. Prices of essential things are going up these days. It is difficult for people to keep up with rising prices. So, the Government has made arrangements for fair price shops where essential commodities like wheat, rice, sugar etc. are sold at rates fixed by it. 

2. We find a fair price shop in each mohalla of a town. The proprietor ( ) of the shop runs it. He gets the foodstuffs from the Government godowns (e) at fixed rates. He has to sell them at the rates fixed by the Government. He gets some commission for his labour. In towns each family has got a ration card. The quantity of foodstuffs to be supplied to each family is fixed.When the ration comes, there is a great rush at the fair price shop. We see people waiting with their bags for their turns.Sometimes we see a large number of people standing in a queue  in front of a fair price shop. In large cities like Calcutta and Bombay people working in offices have to take leave on the day when they expect to get supply of ration. Sometimes they are disappointed ( frena ) when they are told that there is no stock of foodstuffs at the fair price shop. During the days of festivals people crowd round a fair price shop to get the supply of foodstuffs. 

3. A fair price shop provides essential foodstuffs at cheaper rates. So, it serves a useful purpose during these days of rising prices. It is meant for fair distribution of essential commodities.

4. The fair price shop has several disadvantages. People have to face a lot of troubles in getting the supply of their ration from it. Sometimes the proprietor of a fair price shop indulges in blackmarketing. He tries to make a lot of profit (791) at the cost of the poor people. 

5. The working of the fair price shop should be improved. The Government should ensure timely supply of foodstuffs. It should make arrangements for strict supervision (fr) of the working of fair price shops so that their proprietors may not sell their goods in black market.