Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 13: Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today reviewed the functioning of CAPD Department here today.
The Minister said that Government is committed to provide quality and standard food grains to the consumers and stressed upon the officers to ensure proper monitoring and check on the quality of food grains and keep strict vigil on the Fair Price Shops(FPS) to ensure no over pricing occur in the market.
Zulfkar stressed upon the officers to redouble their efforts for bringing more transparency in Public Distribution System so that the people do not suffer for want of food grains. He asked the Assistant Directors to make frequent tours and monitor the supply position in their areas upto the level of fair price shop. The minister asked concerned for ensure that distribution of ration is completed by 15 of every month.
Speaking on newly launched, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES), Zulfkar said that Government is commited to redress the concerns of the people regarding National Food Security Act (NFSA) and therefore going beyond NFSA, MMSFES will enhance ration per head from 5 kg to 10 kg in an effort to follow the old practice of providing 35-kg ration per family, involving nearly Rs 1,500 crore annually.
To ensure smooth implementation of MMSFES and NFSA, the Minister appointed Deputy Director as Nodal Officer for the scheme for Jammu province.
In the meeting, Chowdhary Zulfkar also issued instructions to constitute a committee to monitor the allocation and distribution of ration in the province. The committee will be headed by the Joint Director and include Deputy Director (P&S), CAO and will submit its report by April 20 detailing district wise allocation, basis of allocation, population and scale of ration.
The committee will also submit the details of release orders, actual dispatches along with dates and distribution, tehsil wise actual remittance, the present status of stock of whole wheat, rice, wheat flour (atta) and sugar in all stores of Jammu province including trade & store.
The Minister issued clear instructions to submit the report in stipulated time.
In order to ensure financial discipline in the department, the Minister constituted another committee comprising of Deputy Director(S), Assistant Accounts Officer to check the financial transactions at district level including allocation, disbursement, mode of payment and cross checking of papers and physical verification of data and ensuring that all payments are being made online.
The Minister asked to Director Jammu to submit Action Taken Report for all meetings headed by the Minister in the past.