Dist-level review meeting evaluates progress of PDS

A district-level review meeting of the Public Distribution Committee was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal on Friday to assess the progress of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the district. Deputy Commissioner Repaswal reported that from...

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Chamba, Updated At : 05:00 AM Nov 30, 2024 IST

Mandi DC Mukesh Repaswal presides over a meeting to review the supplies distribution under PDS.

Deputy Commissioner Repaswal reported that from January to October 2024, food supplies worth Rs 55.83 crore were distributed to 1,26,516 ration card holders through 514 fair price shops. He added that most food items, except pulses and edible oils, had already been dispatched to tribal areas like Pangi and Bharmour.

During the period, the Food Supply Department conducted 2,274 inspections, identifying 137 irregularities and imposing fines of Rs 1.61 lakh. Additional penalties included Rs 31,560 for polythene usage and Rs 12,000 for the unauthorised commercial use of domestic LPG cylinders.

To ensure food quality, 78 samples were collected from wholesale centers, flour mills, and fair price shops, of which 77 met government standards. One wheat flour sample failed quality checks, resulting in a Rs 10,000 fine deposited into the government treasury.

Repaswal also updated on LPG distribution, revealing 1,53,746 registered consumers served by nine gas agencies, with 3,03,540 cylinders sold during the period.

Regarding the e-KYC process, the DC said 76% of registrations for ration cardholders were complete. He urged remaining beneficiaries to finalize their e-KYC by December 31, 2024, through fair price shops, Lokmitra centers, or the eKYC PDS HP app.

The committee approved several initiatives, including 10 new fair price shops, six shop branches, the allocation of four new shops, and the reassignment of two shops on compassionate grounds.

Repaswal emphasised ensuring the timely availability of essential goods, maintaining quality standards, and conducting regular inspections to uphold the PDS’s integrity.

The meeting was attended by Additional District Magistrate Amit Mehra, Secretary and District Controller of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, Purushottam Singh, and other officials.