BARAMULLA, JUNE 4: Minister Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Information, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today reviewed the functioning of Food, Civil Services and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Legal Metrology Department (LMD) and Department of Information and Public Relation (DIPR) of Baramulla , Kupwara and Bandipora in a meeting at Dak Bungalow here.
The meeting was attended by District Development Commissioner Baramulla Dr Nasir Ahmad Naqash, District Development Commissioner Bandipora Sajad Hussain Director FCS&CA, Nisar Ahmad Wani, Joint Director Information Kashmir, Mir Zahoor Ahmad, Joint Controller Legal Metrology, Amar Singh, ADCs of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora, District Information Officers of respective Districts, Assistant Director FCS&CA, TSO and other officers of concerned departments.
The concerned officers apprised the Minister about the performance of the respective departments. The Minister was also informed about the number of beneficiaries under National Food Security act (NFSA) and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES).
Reiterating Govt’s commitment for reaching out to the people, the Minister said that FCS&CA is providing subsidized rations to the people at a cumulative budget of Rs 700 crore, besides under MMSFES every kg of rice is procured at Rs 32 and supplied to the consumer at Rs 15 so that the basic right to food and welfare governance is ensured in letter and spirit.
The Minister directed the Assistant Directors of FCS&CA to ensure the lifting of all the food grains under NFSA and MMSFES so that timely distribution of ration is ensured. He also issued strict directions for displaying information regarding consumer rights at sale centers of the department.
Keeping in view holy month of Ramadhan, the Minister announced an additional quota of one kg of sugar per household, besides, the quota of Atta for next five months shall also be doubled with the commensurable decrease in rice allocation. The Minister stressed on distribution of the food grains on quarterly basis.
Following the reports about the non availability of ration in certain far flung areas, the Minster directed the ADs to oversee the stock and supply position in these areas and ensure that every soul is facilitated with adequate essentials.
“Consumer is more important and his satisfaction is the priority of the department”, said the minster. In this regard, he directed for distribution of ration cards on fast track basis, and asked the concerned DDCs to monitor the process. Besides, he called for intensified market checking on regular basis for preventing food adulteration, profiteering and black marketing.
The Assistant Directors have been authorized to engage the technical staff on temporary basis so that the digitization process is completed and ration cards are seeded with AADHAR and bank accounts at an earliest. Moreover the Minister also called for online allocation of ration to different districts and directed the Director FCS&CA to take necessary measures in this regard.
The Minister also underscored the need of making the public distribution system more effective, efficient and prompt. He said that through new fair price shops the department is embarking on the path of privatization, digitization and automation. He said that NFSA and MMSFES have to be implemented in a better way and the parking of food grains has to be discouraged.
While reviewing the functioning of the DIPR in the districts, the Minister impressed upon redefining the role of Information department, restructuring it on modern lines, reiterating its fundamental role in acting as a communication bridge between the administration and the people and projecting positive image of the govt through highlighting achievements of all departments. He also directed the officers of the department to play a proactive role in protecting the achievements and developments.
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