Jammu, Mar 27: Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD),   Qamar Ali Akhoon has said that a number measures have been taken to streamline Public Distribution System (PDS) and to plug pilferage of food grains.
 Replying to the debate on Demand of Grants for the departments under his charge in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister said monitoring and inspection mechanism has been strengthened to thwart pilferage at various vulnerable stages of distribution, including, during transportation and sale at ration outlets.
 He said it has been ordered that every ration dealer shall have to lift the quota of ration from first to 15th of every month for distribution of the same among the consumers throughout the month. If a dealer fails to comply with these directions, his dealership license will be cancelled, the Minister said, adding that the dealers have also been asked to display the stock position and the rates prominently at each ration depot for convenience of the people. 
 The Minister informed the House that the State Government was vigorously pursuing   with the Planning Commission of India to secure   release of full BPL ration quota,   as per the existing population of families falling under this category so that all deserving families get ration at the subsidized rates.
 Besides, all the District Development Commissioners   have been asked to re-verify the BPL lists, within shortest possible time, as per the present population. Maintaining that there is gap between demand and supply as the State receives only 6367 Mts of ration from the Centre against a requirement of 1.32 lakh Mts, the Minister said this gap could be bridged after the Census 2011 is completed.
 The Minister said that J&K was the only state in India which provides ration @ 50 kg per ration card to the people, as compared to 35 kgs per card in other states. The expenses, for the additional 15 kg is being borne by the State Government,  putting a burden of Rs. 104 crore on the exchequer, as the  additional ration is being provided on the subsidized rates to the beneficiaries, despite purchasing it at landed cost, the Minister added.     
 He said that Village Level Vigilance Committees have been set up to monitor receipt and distribution of PDS ration and K. Oil and it has been made mandatory on dealers to append the signatures of the committee members on the sale register. He said an effective mechanism for inspections has been put in place in both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
 He said inspection schedule provides for inspection by the Directors at least once a week. Besides, officers at District and Tehsil levels have been directed to inspect 2 to 3 sale outlets daily. These officers shall have to submit their inspection report to the Administrative Department through the concerned Director CA&PD on monthly basis, the Minister added.  
 Akhoon said all the Assistant Directors and TSOs  have been directed  to identify and cancel all fake and  ineligible BPL/AAY  ration cards immediately and send  action taken reports  on monthly basis, to the Administrative Department . They have also been asked to consolidate the BPL lists by inclusion of left out genuine and eligible families against the deletions. He said that ration cards found in possession of the salesmen/dealers of Fair Price shops shall be seized and cancelled by the department. Dealers shall fill up counterfoils of the RTs, failing which, action shall be taken against the concerned TSO/AD, he added.
 He informed that to revive Public Distribution System about 636 Vigilance Committees have been constituted at District, Tehsil, Block and Panchayat levels in the State to check black-marketing and ensure timely distribution of ration to the beneficiaries.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST