Delhi’s Food and Supplies Minister Reviewed The Preparedness of Fair Price Shops For Upcoming Festive Season
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sh. Imran Hussain reviewed the preparedness of the Department of Food & Civil Supplies and consumer affairs for the upcoming festive season in a meeting with senior officials of Food and Civil Supplies and Weights and Measures Department, including the Commissioner (Food and Civil Supplies) and CMD, Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC) and Controller (Weights & Measure)
The Minister emphasized that the Arvind Kejriwal Government is committed to provide free ration to all the beneficiaries in a time-bound manner and the Department needs to gear up efforts to provide free ration timely to the eligible beneficiaries especially in view of the forthcoming festive season in a transparent manner. The F&S Minister also expressed concern to resolve public grievances related to the public distribution system in a timely and expeditious manner. Shri Imran Hussain said that no beneficiaries will be deprived of getting free ration in Delhi.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sh. Imran Hussain after a due discussion on various issues of F&S department directed the Department to focus on major thrust areas including timely opening and closing of Fair Price shop (FPSs) i.e. 09:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 03:00 PM to 07:00 PM in accordance with existing orders of F&S Department with one day weekly off. He also directed the officers to put in greater efforts for the distribution of free ration under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) beneficiaries in a time-bound manner.
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He said that the Department must ensure timely and continuous lifting of food grains from FCI warehouse and transporting the food grains to the respective Fair Price Shops for the month of November. Further, the Department should ensure the constitution of the Vigilance Committee in all 70 circles at FPS levels and regular convening of Vigilance Committee meetings to resolve beneficiaries’ grievances at the ground level.
He instructed the officers to ensure free distribution of 05 kg ration to needy persons who don’t possess ration cards (non-PDS beneficiaries), including unorganized workers, migrant workers, building and construction workers, domestic help under the Delhi Government relief initiative at more than 80 odd Government schools. He also asked them to ensure that FPS dealers do not indulge in malpractices such as misbehavior, diversion of food grains, hoarding, black-marketing, short dispensing of ration etc. and if any of the dealers is found indulging in such malpractices, strict and swift action shall be taken against the erring FPS dealers as per rule.
F&S Minister Sh. Imran Hussain said that there is a need for expeditious disposal of pending cases with the State consumer Commission and District Consumer Commission as all the commissions are now functioning with full strength. He asked the Weights and Measurement Department officers to ensure that the norms of Packaged Commodity Rules are strictly being followed by the shopkeepers/manufacturers/dealers. The Department will also ensure that only verified/stamped, electronic/manual/weighing instruments are being used by them. In case of violation, strict prosecution action will be taken. The Weights and Measures Department should also ensure that residents of Delhi obtain products with accurate weights, keeping especially in view of the festive season.
Sh. Imran Hussain also directed the Commissioner (F&S) to hold regular review meetings with District Grievance Redressal Officer and also ensure expeditious disposal of pending cases.
