Tamil Nadu govt to introduce UPI transactions at PDS outlets

CHENNAI: Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions via apps like Google Pay and Paytm will be introduced at some PDS outlets run by the cooperatives department, Tamil Nadu cooperation minister I Periyasamy said on Friday. It would be expanded to all outlets in the state in a phased manner, he added.
The cooperatives department runs 33,377 outlets in the state and sells the commodities to 2.02 crore families.
In a statement, the minister said orders had been issued to get ISO-9000 certification for quality control and ISO-28000 certification for security in supply chain management and storage, besides FSSAI certificates.
“Action has also been taken to supply IOC’s 5kg and 2kg LPG cylinders at select PDS outlets on an experimental basis,” the minister said.
The department has been taking measures to turn ten PDS outlets in each district as model outlets.
Since the department runs 17,473 outlets in own buildings and the rest on rent or a non-rent basis, the minister said action had also been taken to construct own buildings for 6,907 outlets.
“Government poramboke land has been chosen for 862 outlets and administrative sanction has been given for 243 outlets. Construction is on availing the funds under MGNREGA, MLA and MP local area development fund and CSR fund,” Periyasamy said.