Department of Food and Civil Supplies: Activities

ACTIVITIES

The objective of the Public Distribution System is to ensure food security and poverty alleviation by making available the essential commodities, specially food grains at an affordable and uniform price at the door steps of the consumers. The department arranges procurement of PDS items like rice, wheat/atta, levy sugar, iodised salt (procurement not being done now) and Kerosene oil under various Govt. of India(Targeted Public Distribution System). Essential commodities are distributed through Fair Price Shops to the identified beneficiaries under the following categories : - APL (Above Poverty Line), BPL (Below Poverty Line), AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) and Annapurna. APL families are issued with pink ration cards, BPL families with dark green ration cards, AAY families with yellow ration cards and Annapurna beneficiaries with light green ration cards. As on January, 2009, 2,19,273 families have been issued with APL cards, 60,771 families with BPL cards, 38,000 families with AAY cards and 4761 persons with Annapurna cards. The cost of the food grains, levy sugar and SKO are highly subsidized and even the transportation charges are subsidized by GOI.

3. To ensure food security amongst the families living below poverty line Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh in collaboration with Govt. of India has introduced the following schemes : -

i) Targetted Public Distribution System (TPDS):

Under TPDS, the States are required to formulate and implement fool proof arrangements for identification of the poor, for delivery of food grains and for distribution of food grains from the FPS in a transparent and accountable manner. The identification of BPL families under the TPDS is carried out by the State Govt. The thrust is to include only the really poor and vulnerable sections of the society. The Govt. of India increased the allocation for BPL families from 10 kg to 20 kg of food grains per family per month w.e.f. 1/4/2000 and further to 25 kg w.e.f. July 2001. The allocation of food grains for BPL families was further increased from 25 kg to 35 kg per family per month w.e.f. 1/4/2002. There are 60771 identified BPL families under scheme. The scale of issue of food grains to APL families has also been fixed at 35 kg per family per month from April/2002. There are 219273 ration card holders under APL scheme.

ii) Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY):

In order to make the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) more focused and targeted towards the poorest of the poor BPL families, the Govt. of India launched the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. 35 kg of rice per month is issued at highly subsidized rate of Rs. 3/- per kg to the identified families from April 2002. There are 38000 identified beneficiaries under the scheme.

iii) Annapurna Scheme:

Under this scheme, 10 kg of rice is distributed free of cost to the old indigent citizens of 65 years of age and above who are not getting benefit under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. There are 4761 beneficiaries under this scheme.

4. COMMODITIES COVERED.

At present, commodities covered under TPDS are rice, wheat, sugar and kerosene. The District Food & Civil Supply Officer identifies the genuine consumers and issue ration cards under various categories in consultation with the elected representatives of the PR members.

5. RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBJECTIVES OF FOOD & CIVIL SUPPLY DEPARTMENT.

The main function of the Department of Food & Civil Supplies on Public Distribution system are : -

(a) To ensure availability of essential commodities at a reasonable price to all sections of the people particularly to the vulnerable sections of the society both in Urban and Rural area throughout the year to be drawn from Fair Price Shops, location at convenient locations.

(b) To issue monthly allocation of food grains, sugar and SKO to the District authorities.

(d) Appointment of wholesale nominee-cum-carriage contractor for lifting and transportation of PDS items.

(e) Enforcement of various provisions of Essential Commodities Act and other Control orders issued by both Central and State Govt. from time to time.

(f) To issue control order, exercise close and constant vigil on the dealers of essential commodities, Fair Price Shops and Pol outlets.

(g) To check malpractice and hoarding of essential commodities under E.C. Act. by organizing checking and raids at regular intervals.

(h) To evolve an effective monitoring system throughout the State on availability and pricing of Essential Commodities.

(i) To maintain close and constant liaison with the Central Agencies like Food Corporation of India, Railway Board and Salt Commission etc. for better and efficient functioning of Public Distribution System in the State, through DRC functioning at different important locations like Shillong, Guwahati, Kolkata, Mohanbari, Lilabari, Tezpur and Resident Commissioner, New Delhi.

(j) Augmentation of Storage facilities in the remote areas of the state for maintaining buffer stock.