Advisor Khan reviews functioning of FCS&CA Deptt, distribution of ration during COVID-19 pandemic

Jammu: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan Wednesday chaired a meeting to review the functioning of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department here at the Civil Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Secretary FCS&CA, Simrandeep Singh; Director FCS&CA Jammu, Jatinder Singh; Controller Legal Metrology Department and other concerned. While as Director FCS&CA Kashmir and other concerned participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
Speaking on the occasion, Advisor Khan underscored the need to cover all the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with fair Price Shop facility so that 1000 more such shops would be added in the existing Public Distribution System (PDS) by end of August this year.
The Advisor impressed upon the concerned officers to update consumers’ ration card with their Aadhaar number so that every beneficiary could be benefitted with this facility anywhere in the country.
He directed the concerned that no dealer should stop ration to any consumer if his/her Aadhaar number is not updated for the months of July and August, while asking all assistant directors of the department to ensure that their respective districts would complete updation process by the end of August 2020.
Advisor Khan also appreciated role of the department during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring supply of ration and other commodities at the doorsteps of people.
He also directed the concerned to ensure buffer stock of food grains in snow-bound areas to a minimum 4 to 6 months in advance so that people in these areas wouldn’t face any difficulty during closure of highway due to snowfall.
Advisor Khan emphasized for ensuring Kerosene Oil and domestic gas (LPG) supply to far flung and remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir like Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Kupwara and many other districts.
He asked the concerned to regularly conduct inspections in order to stop black marketing of ration and maintain register of inspection schedule and stock available during inspection.
The Advisor was informed about the status of food distribution under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, National Food Security Act and JKFES during the lockdown period and that the entire allocated ration was distributed among the beneficiaries during the lockdown period.