Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said the government will ensure that every soul gets ration in the state.The Minister said this while chairing an officers meeting to review the functioning of CA&PD department at Banquet Hall Srinagar.The Minister said the government is committed to redress the concerns of the people regarding NFSA and therefore going beyond NFSA, the state Government launched Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) that will enhance ration per head from 5 kg to 10 kg in an effort to follow the old practice of providing 35-kg ration per family. He said government will ensure ration to all.He said under MMSFES consumer will get Wheat at Rs. 12, Atta at Rs. 13 and Rice at Rs. 15.The Minister said that government is committed to provide quality and standard food grains to the consumers and stressed upon the officers to ensure proper monitoring and check on the quality of food grains besides strict vigil on the Fair Price Shops (FPS) to ensure no over pricing takes place in the market.
Zulfkar stressed upon the officers to redouble their efforts for bringing more transparency in Public Distribution System so that the people do not suffer for want of food grains.Zulfkar Ali also asked Deputy Commissioners to create a mechanism for early redressal of the grievances of the people regarding ration shortage. “Instruct officers at Tehsil level to give patient hearing to public grievances and ensure timely disposal of complaints besides keeping record of all the complaints,” he told the officers.Earlier while reviewing the functioning of CAPD department, Minister was informed that 81436 MTs of rice, 15937 MTs of wheat and 471 MTs of sugar is stocked till date.Officials informed the minister that 3.3 lakh LPG cylinders are also kept in stock in the valley at present which is sufficient for 25 days.During the meeting minister was informed that the department received 411 complaints through CM Grievance Cell out of which 398 complaints have been disposed off. They further stated that 857 complaints were also received through departmental grievances cell out of which 853 complaints stand disposed of till date. Minister was also informed that the department penalized 867 defaulters in the month of April while Rs. 128000 were recovered as fine from them.