“ Uniform scale for providing rice and Atta in rural as well as in urban areas should be maintained”, this was stated by Minister for CAPD and Tribal Affairs, Ch Zulfkar Ali while chairing a review meeting of officers of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution and Legal Metrology Department here at Jammu today.Among others the meeting was attended by MLA R S Pura, Gagan Bhagat, MLA Bishnah, Kamal Verma, MLA Suchetgarh, Sham Choudhary, MLA Akhnoor Rajeev Sharma and MLA Chhamb Dr Krishan Lal.The Minister while taking the review of the CAPD Department of Jammu division stressed upon the officers to work with a missionary zeal so that the ration and other essential items reach to the targeted population in a fair and transparent manner.
The Minister issued directions to the Director CAPD Jammu to work out details regarding scale of ration being provided to rural as well as urban areas immediately so that a uniform scale of ration to be provided to the people in rural as well as urban areas is fixed. He said that uniform scale should be maintained and discrimination with rural areas is unacceptable. The Minister also directed Assistant Directors to ensure that the lists of BPL and AAY are re-verified by the concerned MLA’s. He also issued strict instructions to the AD’s and TSO’s for taking immediate necessary steps so that people don’t have to wait in queues for getting ration at ration depots.
The Minister while taking the review said that from June onwards families under TPDS will get Atta on the basis of 60:40 ratio i.e 60% atta and 40% wheat adding that all Assistant Directors will notify the dates for distribution of ration in a particular village and submit the dates to his office in advance. Besides AD’s and TSO’s were also directed to ensure advance submission of their tour diaries to his office. Stressing for maintaining transparency in the functioning of the department, the Minister directed the officers concerned to ensure that display boards are affixed at every fair price shop showing full details like total number of families in the village, number of APL, BPL families etc. Underlining the need to take various innovative and rational steps for improving the service delivery system of the department the Minister stressed upon the concerned officers to work with dedication and put in strenuous efforts so that benefits reach the deserving and targeted population and visible change is seen on ground.
Regarding the new verification process started by the department the Minister issued strict instructions to the concerned officers to carry out the exercise strenuously and sincerely so that no single person is left out this time and no lapses in this regard will be tolerated, the Minister maintained.While reviewing the progress of Legal Metrology Department, the Minister directed the concerned officers to ensure 100% home delivery of LPG in rural areas also besides directions were also given to check calibration of petrol pumps regularly.MLA’s also put forth certain demands and issues pertaining to the CAPD department during the meeting which include providing of ration to flood affected families, re-verification of BPL ration cards, opening of new fair price shops, checking of kerosene oil pilferage besides various other issues were also raised by the MLA’s during the meeting. The Minister after giving a patient hearing assured the MLA’s that their genuine demands will be addressed in a phased manner.