In early 50s, the tribal economy was non-monetized and “Barter system” was more prevalent. The tribals were subjected to exploitation of the unscrupulous petty traders in this barter system.
In 1956, while forming GCC, the Government entrusted the responsibility of catering to the daily needs of the tribals through a specially designed network of “Domestic Requirements Sales Depots”
In this background, GCC started opening of sales depots in the tribal areas together with a marketing network for MFP.
Over the years, more number of D.R.Depots within the easy reach of the tribalswere opened to avoid trekking long distances for fetching their daily needs.
The Government institutionalized the distribution of Essential commodities such as Rice, Sugar, Kerosene, Palm oil etc. under PDS to the ration-card holders in the agency areas of the State through GCC.
Pursuant to this directive the D.R. Depots of GCC are now functioning as Fair Price Shops. Besides Essential commodities, other items such as pulses, edible oils, salt, dry fish, Jaggery, cloth items, Utensils etc. are also made available to the tribal consumers at competitive rates in these depots.
GCC appointed local tribal youth as Salesmen in these depots to serve the card holders without any interruption.

Sl. No.	Name of the Division	No. of DR Depots	No. of Villages	No. of cards served
Sl. No.	Name of the Division	No. of DR Depots	No. of Villages	White	AAY	Annapurna	Total
1	Seethampeta	57	806	26201	6707	14	32922
2	Parvathipuram	102	1119	20236	32971	20	53227
3	Paderu	339	3306	104736	22181	29	126946
4	Chintapalli	156	1159	46196	12911	12	59119
5	R. Chodavaram	250	1354	70270	18417	65	88752
6	Chintoor	36	164	16507	2463	35	19005
7	Tirupathi	7	7	4499	256	0	4755
8	Srisailam	15	43	2320	2424	2	4746
TOTAL		962	7958	290965	98330	177	389472

The ration cards of the tribal consumers are attached to the nearest D.R. Depot.
The ECs under PDS are distributed to the card holders as per their eligibility and at the rates fixed by the Government.
For uninterrupted distribution of ECs, maintenance of Mandal-level stock points and also Stage-II transportation on behalf of A.P. Civil Supplies Corporation is also taken up.
The entire activity is carried out by the GPCM Societies under the overall supervision of the Divisional Managers.

The daily needs such as Pulses, edible oils, Salt, Jaggery, Utensils, cloth items, fancy goods and cosmetics procured from open market are supplied to tribal consumers at competitive rates.
“Girijan” brand value added products also are made available in the depots to the general public and tribal consumers.
Separate storage godowns for ECs and other items have been opened under the control of GPCM Societies.

Supplies of food provisions & cosmetics to Tribal Welfare Hostels, Ashram Schools, Junior Colleges, ICDS/ Anganwadi centers and other Government Institutions
Credit facility to Government institutions.