* New quota will cover additional 37 lakh souls
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Sept 2: With distribution of ration to Azad Ahmed of village Nagrota in Rajouri, Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today formally launched ration supply as per 2011 census in the state.
“This significant move of the present dispensation has accomplished the most cherished and long pending demand of rationees of the state”, the Minister asserted.
The Minister informed that with adoption of 2011 census figures additional 37 lakh persons are going to be benefited in the state which include 51100 from district Rajouri. Besides, in village Nagrota additional 338 persons will get the ration as per 2011 census, he added.
Expressing pleasure over launching of ration distribution as per 2011 census, the Minister said that this has fulfilled the commitment made by the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. “This is just a beginning of a series of reforms in the CA&PD Department and the Government is contemplating to implement National Food Security Act besides digitization of the entire procurement and distribution system”, he added.
Stating that accountability and transparency will remain the operating principles of the department, the Minister said there is no space for pilferage in PDS and warned of strict action against the wrongdoers.
Referring to proper monitoring of ration supply at grass root level, the Minister said that vigilance and monitoring committees have been constituted to monitor the movement of food grains sale, stocks and distribution of public distribution supply. He added that the Deputy Commissioners have also been asked to closely monitor the distribution of the ration, as per new figures, in their respective districts.