Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Pandurang Kondbarao Pole today said that Administrative Secretaries in Jammu and Kashmir would be staying connected with people to provide good governance at their doorsteps.Speaking to various deputations during the public outreach programme held here, Pole said that Government has started a novel initiative of reaching out to the people—primarily for addressing their grievances and also providing them with better service delivery. He said that the Government through these initiatives, including ambitious ‘Back to Village’ programmes aims to strengthen the delivery of public services at ground level.During the programme, several deputations from Pulwama, Baramulla and Srinagar districts apprised the Secretary about their issues and demands. The Secretary gave a patient hearing to the deputations and assured them that all of their genuine issues would be looked into and addressed accordingly.Pole said people must come forward and register their grievances and also help Government functionaries to profile developmental needs of their respective areas, so that they get better services.He directed the officers that the issue of the public importance must be addressed on priority and they must get hassle-free services from the department.“FCS&CA is a vital department and people have lot of expectations from us. We must make sure that we provide better service delivery and enhance the quality of the public distribution system,” he said.Pole said that people must avail benefits of several centrally sponsored schemes—urging officers that poorest of the poor must be provided benefits under the schemes. He informed that the Government was taking several measures to streamline the public distribution system.
He informed that the DPRs have been formulated to establish District Consumer Forums. Regarding the quality check across Jammu and Kashmir, Pole said that market checking squads in all the district headquarters have intensified their activities. He said that in order to check hoarding, profiteering and black marketing, Special Task Force (STF)have been constituted for regular inspection of stock and supply position of essential commodities including rice, wheat, sugar, LPG, kerosene oil, petrol and diesel in their respective districts.He said that FCS&CA covers 68.10 lakh consumers under National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Kashmir division including Leh and Kargil districts. He said that there was a sufficient stock of food grains (rice and wheat) available with the Department.Later, Secretary FCS&CA, took stock of the essentials at a review meeting with the officers of the Department at Directorate of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Srinagar.The meeting was attended by the Director, FCS&CA, Bashir Ahmad Khan, Joint Director FCS&CA, District officers, representatives from Oil Companies and other concerned.The Director informed the meeting that the monthly allocation made by the Department is 74931 mts of rice and 4077 mts of wheat. He informed that there is adequate stock of food grains available in Kashmir valley.During the meeting, Pole sought detailed feedback from the officers about the function of the department. He directed Enforcement Wing of FCS&CA to conduct regular inspections to check total strength of rationees, consumers, stock and supply position of every ration depot, fair price shops, LPG outlets, Home delivery position, Kerosene depots, Petrol and Diesel outlets of the Kashmir division.He directed them to ensure home delivery of LPGs across the Valley, besides ensure that the delivery vehicles carry weighing machine and rate list. It was said that the registration of distributing agency found violating the orders will be immediately cancelled.For filing of complaints, the Department said, consumers can contact on dedicated Toll Free Numbers--1967 and 1800-180-7011.