Upmarket stores are set to open in Andhra Pradesh’s countryside as the government plans to convert the existing 29,000 fair price shops across the state into mini-malls. To supply grocery and FMCG products at a cheaper rate to these village malls, the Andhra Pradesh government in July called for open tenders from reputed retailing companies. “After the bidding process, we have short-listed two major companies – Reliance Retail and Future Group as suppliers for village malls. In the coming days, the government aims at extending more services and products through village malls such as banking, telecom, medicines, electronics etc, the sources added. Former MP and CPI (M) leader P Madhu said the village malls will completely destroy the PDS and corporatise the rural markets.

Source: Hindustan Times November 03, 2017 13:18 UTC