Satish Sharma reviews functioning of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department

• Emphasizes to make Public Distribution System more transparent, people friendly

SRINAGAR: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Satish Sharma took maiden review of the Department in which he was apprised about holistic transformation and streamlining of the public distribution system, brought through introduction of reforms and technology. Minister for Rural Development, Javid Ahmad Dar was also present in the meeting.

 At the outset, Commissioner Secretary Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Zubair Ahmad presented an overview of the functioning of the Department with stress on reforms and new initiatives.

 While apprising the Minister about various schemes presently in vogue in J&K for beneficiaries, he informed that there are 25.11 lakh ration card holders in J&K covering 99 lakh beneficiaries with 100 percent Aadhaar Seeding. He apprised that the Aadhaar Seeding has facilitated removal of more than a million duplicate/bogus beneficiaries.

He added that in order to ensure that no eligible beneficiary remains out of PDS coverage, the Department has brought nearly 8.66 lakh beneficiaries under PDS network during last two years including left out JK Registrants on e-shram portal.

 He further apprised that the department has emphasized for inclusion of children borne during 2011 to 2016, under PDS and for convenience of beneficiaries, the department has identified locations for opening of new FPS and further action as per policy in being initiated shortly in consultation with NIC for opening of these FPSs.

The Minister was also apprised that the Public Distribution System in J&K is built around a strong and widespread network of 6630 ration shops and ePoS devices have been installed in all the sale outlets across J&K and the distribution process is fully automated with Aadhaar authentication rate of 95% in transactions. Of these PoS machines, 6366 are working in an online mode.

The Minister was further apprised that eKYC of 55.52 lakh beneficiaries under NFSA and 21.78 lakh beneficiaries under NPHH has also been completed by the Department in a mission mode to clean the PDS database. 

The Commissioner Secretary also briefed that the department has also taken steps for implementation of Smart PDS and Route Optimisation in lifting of stocks, as per the directives of Government of India.

Regarding One Nation-One Ration Card (ONORC), he said that so far 1.43 lakh, ONORC transactions were made, taking J&K to 9th position in the country. He also said that during this period nearly 36.34 lakh portability (Inter-District) transactions were also made in J&K.

While speaking on the occasion, Satish Sharma instructed the officers of the Department of FCS&CA to ensure a hassle free PDS and also consider diversification of commodities being provided under PDS.

While commending the efforts made by the department to make the Public Distribution System more transparent and people friendly, Satish Sharma stressed to take all possible steps in coordination with GoI for further augmenting food requirements of people, particularly the vulnerable sections and make the system more convenient and  hassle-free for the beneficiaries.

The Minister further impressed that the department shall take every possible step for ensuring that every deserving beneficiary shall be covered under the PDS. Satish Sharma said the present government is committed to ensure that all citizen of J&K get all benefits under the Public Distribution System and no deserving soul is left out.

The meeting was attended by Anuradha Gupta, Controller Legal Metrology, Abdul Rashid War, Director, FCS&CA, Kashmir, Rifat Kohli, Director, FCS&CA, Jammu,  Anjani Kumar, State Level Coordinator Oil Industry, J&K, State Informatics Officer NIC J&K  and other senior officers of the concerned Department.