Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Information, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today said the government is providing adequate ration to the people at their doorsteps and has covered more than 91,000 families in Kathua district after implementation of NFSA in the State.The Minister was addressing a gathering during an awareness camp organized to create awareness among the people about the benefits of National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Mufti Mohammed Syed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES).Spelling out several measures being initiated to revamp and reform ration supply in the state, the Minister said that Electronic Public Distribution System (ePDS) would soon be introduced at ration depots to check pilferage of ration and maintaining transparency in the functioning of the department.The Minister said the government is working relentlessly to provide essential commodities to the people at their doorsteps. With this resolve in mind, the government is still distributing sugar to families covered under PHH category and will continue to do so in future as well, he added.
He stressed that the department is committed to serve the poor and needy people.Stressing that the government is concerned about the well being of the ration dealers, the Minister said the commission of Fair Price Shop owners was hiked from Rs 50 to Rs 143 per quintal to motivate and encourage the ration dealers to work with dedication and honesty. He asked Director, FCS&CA to clear commission and carriage charges of the ration dealers in time.MLA, Hiranagar Kuldeep Raj, Commissioner/Secretary, FCS&CA Shafiq Ahmed Raina, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Ramesh Kumar, Director, FCS&CA R A Inqalabi, SSP Kathua Suleman Choudhary, Joint Controller Legal Metrology V K Sambyal and other senior officers of the department were present on the occasion. Earlier, a deputation of Civic Safai Karamchari Union led by State President, J&K Peoples Democratic Trade Union called upon the Minister and urged his intervention in regularization of 800 safai karamcharis and allotment of quarters for them at Sunjwan.