Farooq Khan reviews functioning of Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Deptt

Jammu: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Ahmed Khan, Wednesday chaired a meeting of senior officers of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, (FCS&CA) Department to review the overall functioning of the department in Jammu division.
Among others, Director, FCS&CA, Dr Naseem Javaid Chowdhary, Joint Director, FCS&CA, Jammu, Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors of Jammu division besides other concerned officers were present in the meeting.
The meeting had threadbare discussion on several issues regarding functioning of the department which inter alia included digitalization of services, supply chain management, district wise market checking reports, Aadhaar Seeding, PoS transactions for the month of August, 2021 and consolidated statement of number of Kashmiri Migrants and Jammu Migrants registered under relief and non-relief category.
Director apprised the meeting about the working of the department besides elaborately explaining various schemes being implemented by the department for welfare of consumers’ fraternity. He also briefed the meeting that the government has introduced “J&K Food Entitlement Scheme” envisaging supply of additional 5 Kg of foodgrains per soul to bonafide beneficiaries having family size from one to six members over and above the NFSA scale from 1st of July 2016.
The meeting was also informed that the department has switched over to online mode of allocation of food grains, real time movement of food grains and distribution of food grains through ePOS devices where the transactions are being made through Aadhaar Enabled Public Distribution System (AEPDS). Besides, the department has installed CCTV cameras in food stores besides establishing complaint boxes and notice boards in all districts of the division regarding zero tolerance towards corruption.
Advisor directed the officers to closely monitor the prices of food items in the market and carry out regular inspections to keep a check on black marketing and profiteering. He asked them to initiate strict action against the defaulters violating the norms and guidelines issued by the FCS&CA department.
Advisor impressed upon the concerned officers to update consumers ration cards with their Aadhaar numbers.
Advisor appreciated the role of the department in ensuring supply of ration and other commodities at door steps of the people of Jammu and Kashmir during the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
The meeting also discussed various issues related to welfare of employees including release of allowance in favour of officials of Jammu appointed in terms of SRO- 202 and one time exemption for the foundation course in favour of Junior Assistant.