Govt to provide ration as per 2011 census: Zulfkar

* Efforts on to rejuvenate SRTC: Kohli
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 26: To revamp and modernize the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department and to make it totally responsive to public problems, Government is going to initiate some innovative measures in this regard.
Announcing this in State Assembly here during the debate on annual grants of CAPD and Transport Departments, Minister of CAPD and Tribal Affairs, Ch. Zulfkar  said that to check the hoarding, profiteering and over charging the Government under a new initiative will bring a New Act during the current Session of the Legislature.
The Minister said to fulfill the long pending demand of the consumers of the State, the Government will also issue ration as per 2011 census.
He said it is the commitment of PDP -BJP coalition and Narendra Modi led Union Government to supply ration as per 2011 census and this issue will be solved once for all. There will be no delay in this regard. The Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is in Delhi and he will take up this issue with Union Government.
Admitting that State faces shortage of ration for three lakh families as it gets ration for only 22.70 lakh families at present. The last Government had also tried to streamline the system but at that time UPA Government at Delhi did not support them, he added.
Maintaining that the State is facing a shortfall of 16500 mts of ration per month at present, he said to fulfill the demand his Ministry will make CAPD a priority sector and issue ration as per 2011 census.
On implementation of National Food Security Act 2013, he said if Government of India extends extra support to the State the coalition Government has no problems in its implementation.
Doing away with the conventional weighing system in CAPD to supply the ration as per scale to the consumers, the Department is also going to introduce digital system in all CAPD depots of the State from April this year, the Minister said adding for transparency in the functioning of the Department his Ministry has also opened a Grievances Cell in which action will be taken within 24 hours after receiving any complaint.
He said out of 132 locations identified for setting up of gas bottling plants in the State 36 have been established so far and Government is going to seek wild life clearance for construction of Bhatinda to Jammu and Jammu to Srinagar gas Pipe line which is as yet at preliminary stage.
As a major relief to the consumers in Winter Zone, he said onwards the one time ration for six months will be supplied to them which was earlier stocked in the ration depots of Winter Zone. This will ease the problems of the people living in Winter Zone who were other wise facing problems in getting the ration in time.
Announcing opening of 3102 new ration outlets in the State, the Minister said one out let will be opened for 250 ration card holders within a distance of two kilometers under the scheme.
Ch. Zulfkar said for modernization of the Department EDPS system will be implemented and on this scheme Rs 74 crore will be incurred which will be shared by State and Centre on the basis of 50:50. Under this scheme digitalization of data, computerization, component setting, installation of computers etc will be established.
He said for modernization of the Department, CAPD Ministry under its new initiative will also introduce Smart Card system in the State. This will act like an ATM Card  which will carry entire information about the consumer, he added.
Under this initiative 22 lakh families will be issued smart card in the State on the pattern of Chhatisgarh. Soon after this session a team of Departmental officers will proceed to Chatisgarh to study the module.
Ch Zulfkar said to check the pilferage and black marketing in supply of ration, GPS trackers will monitor vehicles taking ration from CAPD godowns to ration depots.
The Minister said the Department in future will also issue calander that when and where and at what time the ration will be supplied. This will be maintained. Besides for maintaining complete transparency and to check overcharging boards will be installed at every CAPD Depot. On this Board rate, scale of ration etc will be displayed, he added.
He also announced formulation of transfer policy by the Administrative Department soon and any officer violating the norms set in this retard will be taken to task.
Maintaining that CAPD has issued free ration of four months to flood hit victims of Panchari as per the information received by him from the officers, he said if this information was found wrong the concerned officers will be taken to task.
The Minister while welcoming the suggestions of the members said he will consider all these to improve the functioning of the department and sought their support in improving the overall system.
Earlier, the Minister moved a Demand for Grant of a sum of Rs.99401.62 lakh to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2016 for the departments under his charge.
Later, the members, who moved the Cut Motions on the Grants, withdrew after the satisfactory reply from the Minister.
The House passed the Grants by a voice vote.
Minister for Transport Abdul Gani Kohli while replying to demand of annual grants told the House, that Government was committed to further streamline the functioning of Transport Department and to make the organization more accountable and profitable.
He said the Department is contemplating to add new bus fleet to ply on new routes to earn more profit. For this, an amount of Rs. 13 crore has been demanded. He hoped that after adding the new fleet the functioning of the department will come on track.
Giving details about the achievements of Motor Vehicles Department (MVD), the Minister said revenue to the tune of Rs. 133.74 crore against a target of Rs. 151.60 crore has been realized during the year 2013-14 and in the current financial year an amount of Rs 123.15 crore has been realized against a target of Rs. 159 crore ending February 2015.
The Minister further said to ensure management and development of better human resource of drivers, Government envisages taking steps like introducing efficient licensing policy and effective permit system for public transport.
To ease the congestion in Jammu city, the Minister said instructions have been passed to the concerned to ensure that idle buses should not be parked at the Bus Stands and after unloading the passengers such vehicles shall be parked outside parking slots.
Earlier, the Minister moved a Demand for Grant of Rs.8678.17 lakh to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2016 for the department under his charge.
Later, the members, who moved the Cut Motions on the Grants, withdrew after the satisfactory reply from the Minister.
The House passed the Grants by a voice vote. 18 Members took part in discussion on demand of grants including Vikar Rasool Wani, Ajay Nanda, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Er. Abdul Rashid, Abdul Majid Bhat, Rajeev Sharma, G. M. Saroori, Mohammad Khalil Band, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Raja Manzoor Ahmed Khan, Rakesh Gupta, Altaf Ahmed Wani, Deldan Namgyal, Bashir Ahmed Dar, Mohammad Amin Bhat, Syed Asgar Ali Karbalai, Ravinder Raina and Sheikh Ishfaq Jabar.

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