Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today held a meeting with Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan where various issues related to FCS&CA and farmers were discussed.The meeting was attended by officers of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Union Government and officers of (FCS&CA), J&K Government in which various decisions pertaining to Jammu & Kashmir were taken.Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali projected the demand of procurement of maize from local farmers through FCI on market rates and disbursing of the same to Consumers on payment of Re 1 per kg. He said that a large number of farmers in Jammu & Kashmir are maize producers but lack of proper market is discouraging for them.He stressed on the need to encourage farmers of J&K by providing them a platform for marketing their produce. Responding to the demand projected by Minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, Union Minister instructed officers of his Department and FCI to coordinate with J&K Government in this regard and start procurement of Maize. Initially, the Minister instructed FCI to procure 2000 MT of Maize from the state.
The Minister also took up the issue of food godowns of state that are presently under FCI for many decades and sought rent of these godowns from the FCI. The Union Minister responded that they have already handed over Nagrota Godown to the State government and they are in process of handing over the remaining godowns at Lethpura and Gulab Bagh to the state soon. He advised the State Government to provide them alternate land for construction of FCI godowns so that they will expedite the process of vacating the State godowns.Taking up the matter of funding for e-PDS, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali projected for 90:10 ratio of funding in e-PDS for J&K state. He said that Government of India is already providing 90% funding to North Eastern states of India and the state has already projected this demand in National Consultation Meeting of Ministers twice. He said that Centre should provide funding to J&K at par with NE States. Union Minister assured proper action in this regard.
Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali briefed the Union Minister that the Department distributed 14 lakh quintals of foodgrains to the consumers of Jammu & Kashmir during last 3 months turmoil in Kashmir Valley. He said that his Department officers and officials worked day and night to provide foodgrains to the people during these hard days. He appreciated his officials of his department, FCI and oil companies for their cooperation in supplying essential commodities to the people of Valley.The Minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali also urged the Union Minister to expedite the release of funds for setting up of Consumer Forums and Legal Metrology labs and offices in the state. Union Minister assured immediate action in this regard.Both Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs J&K Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali held press conference in which they briefed the media about the overall activities of the Department and futures plans of activities for the state. Union Minister announced that the Department will organise All India Consumers Mela in New Delhi on Oct 20 where they will initiate Consumer Awareness Campaign in whole India for 7 days. He also instructed Bureau of Indian Standard, Jammu to work in close coordination with Legal Metrology Department of Jammu & Kashmir in organising Consumer Awareness in the state.Union Minister appreciated efforts of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department of J&K and FCI for their vibrant role in supplying foodgrains to the people of Valley during tough times.