Member of Punjab State Food Commission A.K Sharma today called upon the Guardians of Governance (GoG) to play a proactive role in implementing the National Food Security Act, 2013 in right earnest to benefit the underprivileged and weaker sections of society in the district.Chairing a meeting with the GoGs here at the District Administrative Complex, the Member of State Food Commission, accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner Mr Kulwant Singh, said that there were 35.33 lakh families and 1.37 crore beneficiaries in the state that were getting a direct benefit from the Food Security Act through subsidised grains. He said that the Act envisages providing food grains to the eligible beneficiaries at subsidised rates. Mr Sharma said that to ensure that eligible beneficiaries get maximum advantage of the Act, the GoGs must come forward and ensure that it was implemented in a transparent and accountable manner.The Member of Food Security Commission said that to ensure smooth and hassle-free implementation of the scheme a multi-tier complaint redressal system has been provided. He said that complaint could be lodged at District level with District Food and Supply Controller adding that all Additional Deputy Commissioners (Development) in districts have also been designated as District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) under the external grievance system.
A.K Sharma said that if any complainant/beneficiary was not satisfied with the internal complaint system, he could approach the DGRO and State Commission could also be approached to file an appeal against the decision of DGRO besides addressing complaints directly to the commission too.Member of Punjab State Food Commission further said that the Commission was duty-bound to ensure nutritional value of the grains, supplied to the beneficiaries. Likewise, he said that the nutritional value of the food that was given under Anganwaris to the younger children, lactating mothers and would-be mothers, should also be maintained. Mr Sharma also batter for paying special attention to the grains/cereal/pulses that were cooked under Mid-day-Meal so that students of the government school could be provided quality food.The Member of State Food Commission also said that all the officers/ officials must ensure that the benefits of the Food Security Act were percolated to the eligible beneficiaries. He said that any sort of callousness in this noble cause was unwarranted and undesirable. Mr Sharma said that the Commission would adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards such apathy and severest of severe action would be taken against the perpetrators of this heinous Act.On the occasion District Food and Supply Controller Mr Narinder SINGH, District Programme Officer Mr Amarjit Singh Bhullar, District Education Officer Mr Harvinder Pal Singh, DIstrict Head GoG Major General (Retd) Balwinder Singh, Colonel (Retd.) Balbir Singh, Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Bachan Singh and others.