It transpired a few days ago that the administration of Ashgabat is planning to stop selling subsidized groceries in state-run stores and to deliver them to homes.
It is likely that this is how the authorities are trying to eliminate queues with up to a few hundreds of people lining up in front of the stores.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” found out some details behind upcoming changes in selling groceries at state prices.
On Monday, 10 May, managers of state-run stores were summoned to the Ministry of Trade to be informed of new plans to distribute subsidized groceries.Executives of retail outlets were instructed to count the number of customers they serve.
Store employees were mobilized to go door-to-door to make lists of all residents who have to provide their passport details and contact telephone numbers.
According to several sources, as of 12 May, this work has not been done in all districts of the capital.
Each store is supposed to serve two residential apartment blocks a day once groceries are supplied to warehouses.
On 12 May the first batch of groceries at subsidized prices were delivered to residents of Ashgabat districts of Khitrovka and Gaudan.
Regardless of the number of people in the household, a liter of vegetable oil, a kilo of sugar and three drumsticks were delivered to each family. People had to buy a kilo of rice in a set.
Delivery people were unable to say what groceries will be delivered in the future and how often.
About midday on 11 May bags of groceries were delivered to the district of Bezmein according to the food ration.Instead of going door-to-door, shop assistants started selling groceries in the backyard.
Regardless of the number of people in the household, two kilos of flour, a kilo of sugar, a bottle of vegetable oil and two to three kilos of chicken drumsticks were sold to residents of two nearby apartment blocks.
Shop assistants informed the customers that they would arrive to apartment blocks on a first-come, first-served basis but they do not know how often depending on the availability of groceries at the warehouse.
In the meantime it turned out that the delivery of groceries is one of the possible options to sell produce in short supply.The delivery schedule is currently being discussed, according to which residents of certain houses (two apartment blocks a day) will be able to purchase groceries on a particular day after they present their passports.
Shop assistants say they do not know what decision will be made.
Residents have different opinions about the newly-introduced сhanges – some are relieved that they no longer need to queue for several hours from early in the morning whereas others are convinced that the authorities intend to gradually stop selling subsidized groceries.
In other words, groceries will be delivered less frequently and eventually this practice will be terminated at all.
It was previously reported that in order to eliminate queues in the mornings, since 30 April groceries in state-run stores have been sold at market prices in the mornings.
After lunch employed residents do not have time to stand in line in front of the shops.
Prices are slightly higher than in privately-owned stores and for this reason there are few customers.The post Groceries in short supply are being delivered to homes in Ashgabat.
Some residents are content whereas others fear that the deliveries might soon been suspended first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.