Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 21 : To end the monopoly of fair price shops and streamline the public distribution system in the State , the Government is opening 7679 new food stores in the State which will be fully controlled by it and in whose functioning there will be no role of private agencies.
This was announced by Minister of CAPD and Transport, Ch Mohammed Ramzan while replying to annual grants of his ministries in State Assembly today.
He said the new stores will be properly managed and they will be fully controlled by the Government and for their creation Rs 50 crore have been already released by the Finance Ministry. The total expenditure on them will be Rs 69 crore per year, he added.
The Minister said that he was fed up with daily complaints from people regarding fair price shops as Government had no control over them. “Neither we have any control over them nor could we place the people running them under suspension. Hence the decision was taken in the larger interests of the consumers of the State and for proper distribution of ration,” he added.
He said each ration depot will have one sales man and one helper. The Minister said these new food stores would be setup in both hilly and plain areas as per the requirement. This would help in meeting the demand of the people, he added.
Later talking to Excelsior Mr Ramzan said the Government has no control over fair price shops. “We can’t suspend them or take any other action against them”. He, however, maintained that those fair price shop holders who fall in the criteria will be absorbed but those who are over aged or have cases against them or were involved in black marketing will not be spared. The Government however will consider the cases of those who fall within criteria and are matriculate or 10+2, he added.
The Minister said within this decision over two decade long problem will end in the State as at present one person was running eight fair price shops and as CAPD has manpower shortage it was dependent on private people. In present system one store was supplying ration from 600 to 700 families and in the new setup maximum 250 families will be dependent on one store, he added.
With regard to Food Security Act, the Minister informed the House that it has advantages as well as disadvantages and in view of the same, the Act will not be implemented in toto. However, it will be implemented in parts in accordance with the requirement of the State so that no ration card holder is deprived of benefits under the State’s public distribution system.
The Minister said that State Government has procured and maintained stores with adequate sugar in order to meet the demands of the people. He said that the Government has also taken steps to streamline the distribution of K-oil in the State and maintain its adequate supply. The Government has also upgraded the monitoring mechanism to prevent any pilferage of K-oil in the State.
Ch. Ramzan said that during last one year 142 new gas agencies have been sanctioned by different oil companies to provide LPG to the consumers at their door step. He said most of the agencies were opened in far off areas including 22 in Doda, 7 in Tangdhar and Teetwal and 17 in Rajouri and Poonch besides others. He said that the Government has ensured 100% home delivery in cities and towns across the State, adding that some defaulters among gas agencies have been fined upto Rs 1.20 crore.
The Minister said that the storage capacity of ration and LPG has been doubled in the State during last one year. He said that in ration the CAPD has enhanced storage capacity for six months through FCI and State Government depots which used to be less earlier. In LPG, the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited has enhanced its storage capacity from one and half month to three months.
For streamlining the flour distribution and to maintain quality control, the Minister said that wheat supply to flour mills shall be based on the grinding capacity of the respective flour mills.
The Minister said that Government has formulated an Action Plan for introduction of e-PDS amounting to Rs. 21.64 crore for creation of data base for godowns, FP Shops/PDS agencies/digitization of Ration Tickets and some components of supply chain management under component-I. The proposal has been submitted to the Central Government for approval and release of matching share. The step is aimed to ensure complete transparency in the functioning of the department, the Minister added.
For the conveniences of consumers, the department has launched three websites, one in the Administrative Department and two at the Directorate level. The websites will provide day to day information to the consumers about the rates of commodities and availability of ration and other relevant data pertaining to the department. Besides, the department has also installed consumer grievance registration and redressal toll free telephone numbers at the Directorate level for the consumers. The department has also ensured display of sign boards on Fair Price Shops/Government outlets about the details of ration and their rates, said the Minister.
Maintaining that the Government has taken several measures to improve the distribution system and to keep a check on pilferage of Government ration, the Minister said that Block Level Vigilance Committees have been constituted for monitoring of TPDS and checking bogus ration cards comprising TSO, Inspector CA&PD, VLW, Anganwari Worker, Senior Government teacher and Numberdar under the overall supervision of the concerned Tehsildar. The Committees give their reports to the concerned Deputy Commissioners for appropriate action.
In order to safeguard the interests of consumers, the Government has established two Divisional Consumer Forums in the State, besides, District Forums have been established in each district with Principal District and Sessions Judge of each District as its ex-officio President. The Consumer Councils have also been constituted to suggest ways and means for redressal of consumer grievances. The State Level Consumer Councils headed by the Minister for CA&PD as Chairman and Secretary CA&PD as Member Secretary, besides 17 Members and District Level Consumer Councils are headed by the concerned Deputy Commissioners, said the Minister.
Besides, the Minister said that the Government will have focused attention on the consumer front and will take necessary steps in order to strengthen the Legal Metrology (Weights and Measures) further.
Earlier, the Minister moved the Demand for Grant of a sum of Rs. 1098.81 crore to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March, 2015. The Members who had moved the cut motions withdrew the same after satisfactory reply from the Minister and later the grants were passed.
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