Chandigarh, November 11: With an aim to inspire youth to become entrepreneurs and make them self-reliant, Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal will launch the Retail Expansion Project on February 11, 2021, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay under which 2000 retail outlets will be opened across the state. The State Government vision is to deliver the benefit of the government schemes to the last person standing in line in keeping with the spirit of Antyodaya.

This decision was taken during a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here today with Haryana Agro Industries Corporation Limited regarding setting up retail outlets. Agriculture Minister, Mr. JP Dalal and Co-operation Minister, Dr. Banwari Lal were also present during the meeting. In the meeting, the agency was invited through e-tendering, was selected to implement the project.

While giving information about the project, Managing Director, Haryana Agro Industries Corporation Limited, Mr. Rohit Yadav said that 1500 retail outlets will be opened in rural areas and 500 in urban areas. The State Government will provide the prepared outlets to the youth in the rural areas, he added. He said that provision will also be made in franchise policy to promote women empowerment and encourage youth.

He said that mainly daily needs products and food items will be sold in these retail outlets and 30 percent of the products will be from government undertakings such as Hafed, Vita, Amul, NAFED, Khadi Board, Self Help Groups and Farmers Producer Organizations, etc to be sold here. Apart from this, 30 percent of the products from micro, small, and medium industries of Haryana and surrounding areas will be sold at the outlets, he added. He said that 40 percent of products of national and internationally reputed brands will also be sold here. Only high-quality products will be placed at these outlets, he added.

He said that to set up these outlets, best practices of the private sector such as logistics and supply chain management would be incorporated, which would ensure the availability of uniform high-quality products at all outlets. There will be 100 percent computer-operated outlets under the centralized IT system, he added. He said that transparency will be maintained as transactions will be made through e-bills. The youth will also be given training by the State Government to operate the outlet, he added. He said that the State Government aims to bring maximum benefit to producers, shopkeepers, and customers.

He said that for the successful implementation of this project, a separate division has been set up under Haryana Agro Industries Corporation Limited and it includes experts who have significant experience in conducting such projects.

Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Mr. Devender Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr. V. Umashankar, Principal Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, Mr. Sudhir Rajpal and other officers were also present in the meeting.