DCs as Monitoring Authority for Public Distribution System
Step towards building transparent, accountable system for PDS in JK
Jammu Tawi, January 13: Taking a cue from the Chhattisgarh state, the state government has designated Deputy Commissioners of all the 22 districts of the State as District Monitoring Authority (DMA) for their respective districts to monitor the supply and distribution of commodities under the Public Distribution System.
In order to make Deputy Commissioners and Officers of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs accountable regarding supply and distribution of food-grains, government has made it mandatory to reflect performance of the District Collectors, Officers of FCSCA in regard of PDS in Annual Performance Report (APR).
Following recent visit of Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali to Chhattisgarh, the Jammu & Kashmir Government issued Circular No-1/FCSCA of 2017 re-creating various measures taken by the Chhattisgarh Government to bring accountability and transparency in the Public Distribution System.
Minister projected before Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for adopting of various measures in vogue in Chhattisgarh for making the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs more transparent in the state.
Convinced with the Chhatisgarh model, the government decided to ensure transparency, proper implementation of e-PDS system, time bound delivery of PDS items Rice / Atta / K Oil to beneficiaries, complete check on pilferages, ensure proper monitoring of releases, transport and distribution of food-grains by concerned authorities and also to ensure timely availability of food-grains to the beneficiaries.
According to the Circular, all Deputy Commissioners have been designated as District Monitoring Authority (DMA) for their respective districts to monitor distribution of PDS. DCs have also been authorized to confiscate material / Fair Price Shop in case of default by the shop holder besides government has authorized the DCs to nominate Nodal Officer for every Fair Price Shop.
It was instructed to supply commodities to FPS for a month by the end of previous month besides to ensure SMS delivery system to at least 5-10 renowned people of that village about release / delivery of food-grains to that FPS.
The government issued directions that food-grains/other commodities be released only after the FPS owner clears previous liability and gives a statement clearly indicating the details about the quantum of food-grains received, distributed and balance in previous month. FPS owners have been directed to distribute food-grains by or before 7th of every month.
According to circular the Food Inspector of the area has to inspect 10-15 FPSs of his area during the month and submit the report regarding distribution of the commodities in these shops to Assistant Director of the district whereas Assistant Director has been instructed to cross check at least 10% of the shops checked by the Inspectors.
The government has also made online allocation of food-grains mandatory and enabling Online real time monitoring of distribution of food-grains besides instructions were passed to start SMS service regarding information of Truck dispatches.
Regarding grievances redress, government instructed to create Toll Free numbers for redress of all grievances in time bound manner.
Minister for Food has said that Chhattisgarh state has adopted revolutionary measures to bring transparency and accountability in Food Department. He said that Jammu & Kashmir government also wanted similar changes and new provisions are to be implemented in true spirit in the state and any violation will invite stern action.
