New Delhi: The Railways has now made it compulsory for books on Indian culture and morals to be displayed prominently at all kiosks on stations.
Under the new Multi Purpose Stall (MPS) Policy, circulated by the zonal Railways, the Railway board has instructed all general managers to ensure that such books are found in Railway stalls. The policy was circulated on September 5.
It said that zonal railways shall ensure that all MPS must display and sell books pertaining to Indian tradition, culture, values, morals and history. It added that all miscellaneous, curio stalls, bookstalls, chemist stalls will now come under the multi purpose stalls.
The new policy will supersede the earlier Bookstall Policy which said that kiosks will keep books on varied subjects like literature, history, children’s literature, fiction, travel, light reading, art, culture, current affairs, professional interests and national integration.
A senior Railway official said that the MPS Policy was drafted after it was felt that there was a need to have a single outlet at platforms from where non-catering items required during travel can be purchased.
The stalls are also mandated to sell artefacts and items of local and regional importance, proprietary article depot items, drinking water and medicines. All such stalls and kiosks shall also have to display and sell prominently the zonal railway timetable and Trains at a Glance publication and any other official publication of the railways.
Those who can run these stalls include retailers, individuals and self-help groups who can apply for a licences. The allotment will be done after a tendering process.
Ensuring digitalisation, the new policy has also made it mandatory for the kiosks to have a point of sale or swipe machine for acceptance of credit and debit cards from all customers without charging any additional transaction charge for any sale above Rs 100. For amounts below Rs 100, payments through e-wallet would be acceptable.
