In order to further streamline the functioning of the department and to infuse transparency in the system, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today directed the officers to conduct Food Audit for the year 2015 and 2016.The Minister said this while chairing a meeting to review the functioning of the department here today.
Director FCS & CA Jammu G S Chib also attended the meeting.During the meeting, allocation of food, lifting, stocking position and distribution status under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme was discussed district wise.The Minister directed the officers to conduct Food Audit of all the districts of Jammu division and submit the report by November 15.It was informed that from the month of April to October 2016, a total of 1987312.14 quintals of ration was allocated to all the districts of Jammu province under NFSA against which a total of 1782336.05 quintals was distributed among the consumers thus achieving target of 90 percent. It was further informed that under MMSFES, a total of 231741.2 quintals of ration was distributed among the consumers from the month of July to October 2016.While reviewing the status of distribution of ration, the Minister directed the officers to maintain cycle of distribution and to ensure timely disbursement to the people without any delay.
The Minister also asked them to conduct regular tour of their respective districts especially remote areas to monitor distribution of ration to the people. To ensure effective distribution system, the Minister asked them to remove all types of discrepancies and also to calibrate weighing machines installed at all fair price shops and government depots.Process of installing computers at all offices of the department was also reviewed and was decided in the meeting that from December 15 onwards, daily reporting mechanism will be adopted for having close monitoring of functioning of all offices and to have online monitoring of food grains.Later, the Minister met a deputation headed by President Ration Dealers Association Jammu Prabhu Dayal Sharma who raised various issues including proper allocation and supply of food grains, release of commission charges as per revised rate of Rs 143 per quintal and others.The Minister assured them that their issues will be redressed and asked them to open the fair price shops for long hours so that maximum consumers will be facilitated and to maintain scale of ration while distributing ration among them.He also asked the officers to prepare roaster to ensure equal allocation of ration to the dealers.Among others, Chief Accounts Officer FCS & CA Jammu, Joint Director FCS & CA Jammu Mansoor Ahmad Choudhary, Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors were present in the meeting.