Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has said that Jammu & Kashmir Government is committed to bring total transparency in all sectors and they have succeeded in changing perception of the people towards Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs.
The Minister, who is on a study tour to Goa, interacted with Senior Officer of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department at Panaji to get first-hand information about the overall working of the Department in the State. Director Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in Goa Mahesh V. Corjuenkar briefed Zulfkar Ali regarding various projects implemented by them in the state for the welfare of the people. Other officers of the Department were also present on the occasion.
Zulfkar was briefed that the Department implements various statutory provisions as contained in the Essential Commodities Act 1955 and the rules made thereunder regulating procurement and distribution of essential commodities under the Public Distribution System.
The Director said that they have built a cordial and harmonious relationship with the public and the officials which is turning fruitful to render excellent service to the people. He said that the Department is also protecting and guarding the interest of the Consumers to make available to them the means of asserting their Consumer Rights and to redress their grievances through North and South district Consumer Redressal Forum and Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Consumer Conciliation Committee and Lok Adalat.
The Minister was informed that the Department is renewing Ration cards after every five years. Besides he was told about inclusion/deletion of family members in ration cards, change in the address within the service area of the Fair Price Shops, change in the address including change in the fair price shop within the Taluka, issue of surrender certificates on transfer to other city or otherwise, issue of license for running fair price shops, issue of licenses for retail sale of kerosene, issue licenses for foodstuffs, issue of solvent/naphtha licenses and certificate of registration to edible oil packaging units.
During the interaction, the Minister was also briefed about Tribal Area Sub Plan – a Schedule Tribe Development Scheme aimed to create consumer awareness and hold programmes in the areas where there is a maximum population of scheduled tribes communities. They added that a provision of Rs 22 lakh has been made in the budget 2017-18 for the purpose.
He was also apprised about the direct benefit transfer of kerosene wherein government identify actual beneficiary to avail the benefit of subsidized kerosene oil. The Officers apprised that the Department invited applications from those who are not achieving LPG gas connection so that the oil is provided only to those which are not having LPG connection. He was also apprised about 99.75 percent Aadhar seeding of ration cards and 81.63 percent mobile seeding of ration cards. He was also briefed about end to end computerization of FPS wherein they have installed 42 PoS Machines in FPS
On the occasion, Zulfkar appreciated Goa Government for successfully implementing NFSA and e-PDS programmes in the state. He said that Jammu & Kashmir Government is also committed to provide transparent system in the State. He said that J&K Department of FCS&CA has been successful to change the perception of the people and is now known as transparent and accountable Department. He said that they tried various measures to bring transparency in the Department and they have succeeded a lot in their goal.
Later, the Minister also held field visits in Panaji to know about the practical working of fair price shops in Goa. He appreciated the Goa administration for efficient public delivery system.