Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today launched distribution of new ration cards among the beneficiaries here at Dak Bunglow. The Minister said that the ration card plays an important role in the lives of people. “Besides serving as a ticket to get quota of ration under NFSA, it also acts as a documentary proof asked by various agencies including banks for opening of accounts,” he said.The Minister gave a detailed deliberation on the various reforms of the CA&PD department. “The ration cards have been made available on the department’s online portal that facilitated the citizens in a great way,” he said.The Minister also stressed upon officials of the department to educate people about their rights and entitlements. He asked people to be proactive in identifying unfair practices into the department. “People should be proactive in coming up with the complaints if any, so that department is streamlined,” he said.
He said that the department is working 24x7 to make the whole system foolproof by switching to the automation mode. He said that it would further help in streamlining ration supply and plug pilferage and other malpractices.Recognizing that there was paucity of sugar in the state due to bottlenecks of tendering process for the last few months, the Minister informed that the tender has now been finalized and sugar would be available in coming days.The Minister lauded strenuous efforts of District administration, Baramulla, saying that the district has left no stone unturned in enabling the implementation of the scheme.The Minister also announced that 50000 extra ration cards would be available to the district Baramulla in addition to the allocated quota and this will help to cover the uncovered beneficiaries.He also announced setting up of 270 fair price shops in the district.The Minister also announced that on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr one Kg extra sugar shall be provided to the beneficiaries.MLA Sopore, Abdul Rashid Dar, MLA Gulmarg, Abbas Wani, MLA Rafiabad, Yawar Mir, Secretary CA&PD Shafiq Raina, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Yasha Mudgal, Director CA&PD Kashmir Peerzada Mushtaq Ahmad Shah and Director CA&PD Jammu G S Chib, ADC Baramulla and other senior officials of the department and district administration, besides huge gathering of public attended the function.