Stressing upon implementing agencies to strictly adhere to set timelines for completion of Electronic Public Distribution System (ePDS) in the state, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) and Tribal Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali directed the authorities of M/S Linkwell Telesystems Pvt. Ltd. to work in mission mode and make coordinated effort to ensure cent per cent installation of PoS devices by this month end.The Minister said this while chairing a meeting with officers and other concerned departments to review the progress on implementation of ePDS.He asked them to come with detailed action plan and efficient work schedule for completion of ePDS by March this year. The government is committed to safeguard the rights of consumers by bringing cent percent transparency in the state, the Minister added.The Minister also took detailed review of district wise stock and supply position, allocation, lifting and distribution of food grains and asked the field functionaries to ensure that every beneficiary of National Food Security Act (NFSA), Mufti Mohammad Syed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) and other schemes receive allotted quota of food grains in time.He asked the officers to procure the high-quality ration in advance to ensure its timely distribution, besides properly utilizing the revolving funds.
Further, he informed that the government has decided to extend the validity of existing ration cards, expiring next month, to December 2019. Regarding the status of Aadhaar seeding and distribution of ration cards among the consumers, the Minister directed Joint Director, FCS&CA to expedite the distribution of rations cards and complete the process of Aadhaar seeding in stipulated time frame.The Minister directed to establish a dedicated control room in the Directorate Office to provide assistance to officials/ FPS dealers, in case they face any difficulties while operating through ePDS.To ensure proper implementation of supply chain management as ePDS component, the Minister assigned the job to Assistant Director (Trade and Stores) to submit compliance report in the next meeting.Zulfkar asked the concerned officers to put in synergized efforts to bring more efficiency in the functioning of the department. “Any negligence in maintaining records would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against erring officials,” the Minister exhorted.Later, the Minister held a meeting with the officials of JKSRTC and instructed them to provide adequate transportation with GPS installation so that real time location of the vehicles carrying food grains can be tracked.Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA, Mehraj-ud-Din Khan, Director FCS&CA, Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani, Director FCS&CA, Jammu, Ch Rashid Azam Inqalabi, Managing Director, JKSRTC Mir Afroz besides senior functionaries of the concerned departments, representatives of NIC attended the meeting.