Emphasizing government’s assurance towards timely availability of essential commodities to the consumers, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) and Information Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today set deadline for ration distribution from 10th to 15th of every month with instructions to concerned for firm adherence to the same.The Minister said this in a meeting convened to review the performance of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Legal Metrology and Information Department in Jammu here today.While taking a review of the status of availability and distribution of ration in Jammu division, the Minister asked the SDMs to keep a strict supervision over the whole process of lifting, procurement and distribution of ration to the targeted destinations.“Elaborating on the significance of an effective monitoring mechanism for success of any programme, the Minister said that we all have to work in coordination and cohesion and complement each other in ensuring that the consumers are not deprived of their basic rights and get their due in time without any inconvenience”. The performance of administration at all levels would be judged by the promptness it shows to public needs and its effective delivery of service to the people, he added. He added that the state government expends Rs. 700 crore on providing subsidized ration to its people and it becomes our prime and moral responsibility to ensure that these funds are utilized for optimum benefit to the public.
He said that proper monitoring of the the ration distribution shall be done and concerned officers will ensure that on 16th of every month the utilization certificates are submitted and lifting of ration starts for the next month.Meanwhile, the Minister announced an additional quota of 1kg sugar for the consumers of the region in view of Eid.The Minister asked the officers not to issue ration to non state subjects and cancel all such ration cards which have been made in favour of any non state subject, if any.Taking cognizance of exorbitant rates of certain edibles being charged in malls, cinema houses and other business establishments, the Minister ordered constitution of a committee to keep check into the issues of overcharging by such business houses besides fixing prices of items being sold inside these establishments under the prescribed norms and rules. The committee would be comprised of Director CAPD as its head with ADC, Deputy Controller LMD, Deputy Director Supplies and concerned Ads as its members. He asked the concerned to submit the report, in this regard, to Deputy Commissioner for further compliance to the Ministry for necessary action.The Minister, while laying stress on effective implementation of NFS, said that this Act guarantees timely ration distribution to consumers and concerted efforts should be made for its effective implementation. He also asked for implementation of other revolutionary schemes like MMMS, Prime Minister Ujjwala scheme in letter and spirit.Assessing the status of Adhaar seeding in Jammu, the Minister asked the Deputy Commissioner to further expedite the process to facilitate the consumers with timely supply of essentials.
Reviewing the functioning of LMD, the Minister emphasized upon the officers to further expand the ambit of their services and intensify checking drives to save the consumers from unfair trade practices. He also asked them to accord special emphasis on several issues like dual MRP, deceptive tactics by traders, malpractices by nursing homes and clinics, home delivery of LPG, profiteering and hoarding etcetera.The Minister, while reviewing the working of Information department, stressed on highlighting the development aspects of the district and also asked Deputy Commissioner to constitute an integrated committee and sub committees comprising officers from concerned departments like CAPD, LMD, Police and Information for market checking. This endeavor is aimed at to safeguard the interests of consumers besides ensuring them quality products at reasonable price.Deputy Commissioner Jammu Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Ch Rashid Azam Inqalabi, Joint Director Information Manisha Sarin, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Rifat Kohli and other senior officers of the concerned departments were present in the meeting.