Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today held an interactive session here with the local dealers and addressed the issues raised by them. The dealers of Mahore, Dharmari, Chasana, Katra, Pouni and Thakrakote apprised the Minister about their demands related to grant of pending freight charges, time bound release of commission charges, enhancement of PHH quota for backward areas and various other issues related to distribution of ration cards.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister announced the coverage of more 5000 souls in the district under PHH in addition to the existing 38472 families. He instructed the concerned officers to add only genuine persons under the category after proper verification. He said informed that the number of BPL beneficiaries in the Reasi district was 20020, which has almost doubled since the present government took over in the state. The Minister also announced four new distribution centers (stores) for Reasi town on the basis of internal adjustment and assured that one store will be made available for every 1000 population to tackle the heavy rush of beneficiaries.The Minister also instructed the officers and dealers to project the ration requirement as per the eating habits of the local people. The Director was asked to release the ration supply as proposed from the field staff.
It was informed that against total 80,000 rationees, 32000 have been provided ration cards so far. The Minister instructed the department to distribute the pending ration cards in ten days and issue modified cards for the households shifted from NPHH to PHH category.The Minister asked the officers of FCS&FA to ensure cent percent ADHAAR seedling of ration cards and their linkage with bank accounts adding that this will ensure transparency and accuracy in the system.On the issue of freight charges, the Minister asked the Deputy Commissioner to constitute committee to revise the freight rates strictly as per the distance and genuineness of the transportation facility and ensure that ration is distributed by the dealers from the fixed locations for which the freight has been approved and take action in case of any lapse on this account. To make the ration distribution stores multi utility centers, the Minister said the department is also planning to add more food grain items which would be provided to the people on lower rates as compared to the market rates. He said the deartment would also try to provide one lap top to each sale centers to provide various other services to the people at their doorsteps. He appreciated the synergy between the departments in ensuring high standards of transparency, accountability and responsibility which is the bedrock of state’s unparallel performance in NFSA implementation.The Minister reiterated the government’s resolve in taking forward the vision of prompt and clean governance for the betterment of all and empowerment of poor and marginalized people.Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Finance and Planning Ajay Nanda said that initially NFSA implementation was like a challenge for the state but the Government with the assistance of Central Government implemented it on the ground in a smooth way. District Development Commissioner, Prasanna Ramaswamy G, Director Food, Civil, Supplies & Consumers R A Inqlabi, Director Tribal Affairs, Controller Legal Metrology other senior officers from FCS&CA and district administration were also present on the occasion.