Jammu: In order to bring more transparency, accountability and fair distribution of food grains to the public, the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) in collaboration with M/S Linkwell Pvt. Ltd. has started district level workshops for effective implementation of electronic Public Distribution System (e-PDS).
The technical training sessions on working of PoS devices including introduction of hardware and software of these machines are being organized in various districts. The refresher courses for FPS owners/Salesmen have been started. As of now, 1400 fair price shop owners/salesman of various districts of Jammu Province have been trained and the training of remaining FPS Owner/Salesmen shall be completed by first week of July, 2018.
Presently, e-PoS distribution of food grains is being carried out for Priority House Holds/Antyodaya Anna Yojana Category. The experts of M/S Linkwell Pvt. Ltd. are training the FP shop owners/ Salesman at their respective District Headquarters. A total of 2791 PoS machines have been installed in various districts across Jammu province including 293 in Doda, 835 in Jammu, 272 in Kathua, 173 in Kishtwar, 188 in Poonch, 379 in Rajouri, 153 in Ramban, 193 in Reasi, 126 in Samba and 179 in Udhampur.
The Department has also initiated the other steps for ensuring transparency in distribution of food grains including establishment of toll free number 1800-180-7106 on which public can lodge their grievances 24×7; establishment of Grievance Mechanism Portal; constitution of Vigilance Monitoring Committees at FPS Level; dispensation of Old Kanda System by Installing Electronic Weighing Scales; installation of Complaint/Suggestion Boxes at all FPSs and digitization of beneficiary data of 1.19 crore in the State.
