Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) and Information Ch. Zulfkar Ali stressed for filling up of all vacant posts in the department. The Minister asked the department to immediately refer all vacancies at different levels to the recruiting agencies Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) and Public Services Commission (PSC) for selection of candidates on fast-track basis.The Minister was chairing a meeting of senior functionaries of the FCS&CA department to review its working at various levels.Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA, Shafiq Ahmed Raina, Director FCS&CA, Ch Rashid Azam Inquilabi, Joint Director FCS &CA, Assistant Directors, besides other senior functionaries attended the meeting.The Minister asked the officers to ensure quality control in procurement and distribution of food grains. He directed for strict adherence to time schedule and submission of utilization certificate by the Assistant Directors to avoid delays in ration distribution.He stressed upon the Assistant Directors to install hoardings and banners highlighting department’s welfare schemes and initiatives like NFSA, MMSFES, rates list of commodities, number of beneficiaries etc.‘This way people will get a feel of transparent and accountable administration’, he said adding the general masses should have proper awareness about various government schemes.
The Minister also emphasized upon the officers to look into actual requirement of the kerosene oil in the districts so that adequate supply is ensured to the consumers in the areas where the penetration of LPG is relatively low.He further asked the Joint Director FCS &CA to ensure cent percent installation of GPRS tracking system in all carriage vehicles used in transportation of food grains to keep tab on the trajectory, halts and checking any kind of pilferage of food grains in FCI/FCS&CA stores.The Minister informed that the sanction has been accorded for the payment of commission charges @ Rs 143/- per quintal to the FPS dealers for the financial year 2017-18 w.e.f April 2017. During the meeting, the Minister discussed cases pending at different courts. He directed the law officer to pursue the cases for their early disposal. The meeting also held detailed discussions on the sanctioned strength of staff in the FCS&CA department.Director FCS & CA was asked to expedite the process of allotment of new Fair Price Shops in Jammu division for the smooth distribution of ration supply to the consumers.The process of regularization of daily wagers/casual labourers/chowkidars was also discussed in the meeting.