With an aim to reach out to the people in far flung areas and listen to their grievances, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Chaudhary Zulfkar Ali today visited the remote areas of district Reasi and held series of public grievances redress cum awareness camps at Sungri and adjoining areas.
Highlighting the various schemes launched by the Government, the minister said that the Government is doing its level best to ensure that the developmental programmes meant for the welfare of the common masses percolate down to them so that they can avail benefits of the same.While interacting with the people, Chaudhary Zulfkar said that the objective of holding such public grievance redressal camps is to get a close and direct insight into the various problems being faced by the people of rural pockets for their early redressal.The minister urged the people to avail the benefits of various welfare schemes while giving special reference of the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES), National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that food grains at highly subsidized rates are provided under NFSA for priority households, adding that under the scheme food is a matter of right and in case food grains are not provided, there is a provision of Food security allowance.During the camp, people of the area apprised the minister about the problems being faced by them like scarcity of ration depots and unavailability of gas agencies in the area.The minister gave patient hearing to the grievances and passed on-spot directions for redressal of the same. He also directed ADC Reasi to conduct an enquiry with regard to a complaint regarding non-availability of ration under MMSFES and also asked the Tehsildar of the area to take necessary steps to check pilferage at ration shops.Besides this, some of the prominent citizens also highlighted their demands like Upgradation of various schools, Establishment of more ration shops, Survey regarding the preparation of ration cards of the left out families, revision of the carriage rates, Creation of Aadhar for left out population and establishment of Gas agencies.The Minister also held a public meeting at Mahore and interacted with the people there. MLA Gulabgarh Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, Additional Deputy Commissioner Reasi Shiv Kumar Gupta and other district officers attended the camp.