Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today called on Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan and sought adequate quantity of wheat for implementation of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) in J&K.
Expressing concern over the shortfall of wheat for implementation of MMSFES in J&K, Zulfkar Ali demanded removing of 6000 MT cap on availability of wheat for the State and exempting J&K from participating in the tendering process for purchase of wheat/rice under OMSS.
He informed the Union Minister that J&K Government had launched MMSFES to supplement National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Union Government had assured that adequate food-grains will be made available under the scheme by FCI. “But it has been observed that adequate quantity of wheat is not being made available by the FCI which is hampering smooth implementation of MMSFES on the ground,” he told the Union Minister.
Zulfkar said the State Government had to participate in weekly tendering process for purchase of food-grains under OMSS and with the participation of private players in the e-auction and fluctuation of rates, J&K is unable to procure the requisite food-grains as it is beyond the capacity of the departmental budget.
The Minister called for issuing instructions to FCI to make adequate quantity of wheat available at FCI godowns as per the requirement projected by the State Government.
Projecting the demand of revival of lapsed ROs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali briefed Paswan that in view of poor road connectivity, difficult hilly terrains, snow-bound areas besides law and order situation, repeated requests for extension of validity for lifting of leftover quantity of wheat are pending and these ROs need to be revived. The Minister demanded that the authority for grant of extension for lifting of food-grains be kept as 30 days with General Manager and thereafter another 30 days with ED North.
Reiterating the demand of benefit of funding under special category to J&K under End-to-End Computerization of PDS Operations, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali briefed Union Minister during the deliberations of National Consultative Meeting of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Ministers held at New Delhi on 07-07-2015 and also on 21-05-2016, the Government of India was requested to provide 90:10 basis funding for End to End Computerization of PDS operation on the pattern of North Eastern States. He said that the same was agreed yet no order has been issued yet. He demanded action in this regard.
Demanding augmentation of storage capacity of foodgrains, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said that State Level Consultative Committee meeting of Food Corporation of India which was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti last year had recommended construction of hi-tech godowns in Jammu and Kashmir and Food Corporation of India was asked to formulate proposal for construction of two SILOS (modern Godowns) of 50,000 MTs Capacity near Railway Stations in Jammu and Srinagar to stock adequate foodgrains especially to meet the requirement in winter and also during natural calamities and other emergencies. He demanded assistance for increasing the storage facility in the state and setting up of SILOS at Khannabal Anantnag, Lethpora, Pulwama, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts. He also demanded construction of FCI godowns at Reasi, Ramban and Marwah/ Warwan in Jammu division.
Stressing the need for quality control of food-grains, the Minister said that there is no Laboratory facility for testing the quality of food-grains and other commodities available in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Union Ministry should consider funding for the establishment of quality control Lab at Jammu and Srinagar for the purpose.
Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali also briefed the Union Minister about the functioning of Legal Metrology Department in J&K.
He also projected for funding to establish State Consumer Help Line, Consumer Welfare Fund, Setting up of Retail Price Monitoring Cell (RPMC) and infrastructure Development for District Consumer Fora.
Ram Vilas Paswan gave patience hearing to all the issues and assured that Union Government will expedite redressing all the demands. He agreed removing of cap on availability by 6000 MTs of wheat for the state of Jammu and Kashmirand to provide 100 percent funding for e-PDS. Union Government further assured funding for Legal Metrology Department of the State.
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