Calls for strengthening food security measures and enhancing transparency
Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired a detailed review meeting of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) and Legal Metrology Departments, where Commissioner Secretary, Saurabh Bhagat, presented a comprehensive overview of the functioning, achievements, and upcoming deliverables of the department.
Others who were present in the meeting includes Director, FCS&CA, Kashmir/Jammu; Controller, Legal Metrology along with other concerned officers.
The Chief Secretary commended the department for its achievements in digitization, Aadhaar integration, and ensuring transparency in food distribution. He stressed on the need to remove undeserving beneficiaries, strengthen consumer protection mechanisms, and ensure timely completion of deliverables to enhance efficiency in service delivery.
The Chief Secretary was apprised that the National Food Security Act (NFSA) is benefitting over 102.54 lakh individuals across 25.61 lakh families in J&K, ensuring food security to the vulnerable sections. The distribution includes 3.70 lakh quintals under NFSA, 1.59 lakh quintals under non-NFSA, 1.24 lakh quintals under PMGKAY, and 0.20 lakh quintals under State Ayushman Ann Yojana (SAAY) on a monthly basis.
It was further informed that J&K has achieved 100% Aadhaar seeding of ration cards and beneficiaries, with 96.55% authenticated transactions, thereby ensuring transparency in public distribution. The network comprises 6611 sale outlets, of which 6362 operate online through e-PoS devices.
About the implementation of NFSA here it was given out that the AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) consumers constitute 2.21 lakh families (8.76 lakh beneficiaries) receiving 35 kg food grains per ration card monthly, free of cost.
Moreover PHH (Priority Households) constitute 14.39 lakh families (58.63 lakh beneficiaries), receiving 5 kg of food grains per person per month and NPHH (Non-Priority Households) includes 8.11 lakh families (31.80 lakh beneficiaries), with food grains provided at subsidized rates along with 0.89 lakh families (3.34 lakh beneficiaries) not entitled under NFSA/Non-NFSA under exclusion category.
The Commissioner Secretary outlined key technology-driven reforms under SMART-PDS, which includes 100% FPS automation using e-PoS devices, Digitization of beneficiary databases and Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, Migration to the new RCMS portal, with integration of migrant ration cards under process.
With respect to E-grievance redressal mechanisms via JK-Grams portal, toll-free numbers, and WhatsApp grievance numbers, the meeting was apprised that multiple modes are in place for the consumers to reach to the authorities for redressal of their complaints in a time-bound manner.
It was also revealed that the enforcement of strict penal provisions to curb misappropriation, black-marketing, and diversion of food grains, including fines up to Rs. 8,000/quintal of wheat/rice, Rs. 120/kg in case of sugar, along with additional penalties for supervisory officers in case of non-reporting of such malpractices had been implemented successfully in the Department.
The Department has set clear timelines for future deliverables, which includes 100% e-KYC saturation by December 2025, Full integration of migrant ration cards with PDS database by November 2025, Re-organization of the FCS&CA Department and Legal Metrology Department by December 2025, CUF facility at Bajalta (1.13 lakh KL capacity) and land acquisition for 49,000 KL storage at Srinagar, Upgradation of PoS machines from L0 to L1 by March 2026.
As far as the working of the Legal Metrology Department is concerned it was given out that the mandate of the department is inspection and verification of all the Weights & Measures (Weighbridges, Tank Lorries, storage Tanks, Petrol Dispensing Nozzles etc) besides regulation of packaged and imported commodities; inspection/regulation of E-Commerce entities; Regulation of LPG and Petroleum Products, Lodging of consumer complaints before Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, awareness of consumers, handholding of traders under BRAP/ EQDB etc besides other functions.
For safeguarding the interests of the consumers the Department had conducted 20455 inspections of shops & establishments, held242 awareness camps, with 100 complaints received from consumers, 1256 challans booked and Rs 182.51 lakhs revenue realized from composition and other measures.