New Delhi, Feb 11: Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Qamar Ali Akhoon has strongly pleaded for additional 16500 MT foodgrains to the state on the “Central Issue Prices” to cover the entire population enumerated in the 2011 census.
 The Minister was addressing a 2-days conference of Food Ministers and Food Secretaries of States the other day, an official statement today said.
 The Minister also pleaded the case for providing Rs 7412.16  lakh for computerization programme of TPDS for which action plan has already been submitted to the central government.
 Akhoon said the current allocation of food grains are based on projected population of 2000, which he said, is 25.5 per cent less than the currently estimated population of 125.00 lakh in the State.
 He said the demand for foodgrains has correspondingly increased to the extent. “Though additional allocations are made from time to time, yet these are not enough to cater to the needs fully”, he maintained.
 Akhoon said that the J&K is traditionally a food deficit State and consequently no procurement has taken place in the past more than two decades.
 He said during the kharief marketing season of 2010-11, a beginning was made and 3848 MTs of paddy procured in the year and 1972 MTs were procured in 2011-12 by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
 He said some quantity of rice was also contributed by the State through levy route, 8576 MT in KMS 2010-11 and 108 MT during KMS 2011-12.
 The Minister said the State Government has already recommended enhancement in the maximum quantity of foodgrains permissible to the persons belonging to priority households living in snowbound and inaccessible areas as may be determined by the State Government.
 He said State Government had also suggested maintaining parity in the entitlement for persons belonging to general households and priority households.
 He asked for covering 90% of urban population and 100% rural population under the bill, out of which 28% and 46 % respectively should be priority households.
 Akhoon said that the State Government is committed to adopt all measures aimed at increasing the transparency in the working of TDPS as also providing effective and speedy grievance redressal to the beneficiaries. He said the suggestions of the central government shall be implemented in letter and spirit to achieve the objective.
 The Minister stressed on reducing the burden of distribution costs and ensuring timely distribution, the buffer stocks equivalent to four months requirement should be maintained by the FCI at each district headquarters especially in Valley during winter to ensure availability when Highway remains closed due to inclement weather.
 Regarding computerization of TDPS, Akhoon said that the State Government stands by its commitment adding that an action plan formulated by the State Government has been submitted to the central government for funding.
 He said the project comprises of four components and is envisaged to be completed at a cost of Rs 7412.16 lakh during three years from 2011-12 to 2014-15.
 He said that the steps for computerization of Supply Chain Management and allocations have already been initiated and will be partly completed as component one.
 He said Digitization of beneficiary data will be taken up and completed in component two and FP shop level will be undertaken under component third. Accordingly the transparency and grievance redressal portals are already in the process of being taken up and will be strengthened in component four.

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