STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The government is putting in strenuous efforts to complete the process of Electronic Public Distribution System (ePDS) in the State by March, 2018.
This was stated by the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali while chairing a meeting of officers of Jammu Division convened to review the progress on streamlining of the ration distribution system under ePDS Project in the State.
The Minister, while elaborating on the measures being initiated to make the system transparent, asked the concerned officers to strictly adhere to the set deadline for completion of the project so that the purpose behind launching of this prestigious project is met in letter and spirit and consumers get ration in a totally transparent and hassle-free manner.
The Minister directed the authorities of M/S Linkwell Tele-systems Pvt Ltd. to complete 100% installation of PoS devices in 20 districts of the State by 30 January, 2018positively to make 6000 Fair Price Shops in these districts fully functional. He said the process of installation of PoS devices in border districts of Leh and Kargil shall also be taken up soon.
Taking stock of the availability of the Computers, net facilities and other accessories required at all stores, Fair Price Shops and Offices of the FCS&CA Department, the Minister said that there is no constraint of funds but need is to submit the requisition to the concerned well in time. He instructed the concerned authorities to provide adequate number of computers with all other accessories for installation in all the ration stores and offices of the department and FCI stores for proper maintaining of daily records.
To strengthen the Supply Chain Management (SCM), the Minister directed the State Head of National Informatics Centre to conduct a training programme for all the Assistant Directors and Field Officers of the Department in the next week. He directed the concerned to ensure the implementation of the current operational status of SCM on the portal of all the districts of the State by 15th of January, 2018.
Reviewing the status of division wise target of ration cards for Aadhaar seeding, it was informed that a total of 73,090 beneficiaries have been covered in Kashmir and 76,563 in Jammu division within the fixed time.
The Minister directed the concerned to ensure that variation in the target reports shall be reduced to zero for both PHH and NPHH category. He further asked the officers of FCS&CA to ensure cent percent Aadhaar seeding of ration cards and their linkage with bank accounts to ensure transparency and accountability in the system.
Commissioner Secretary FCS &CA, Mehraj ud Din Khan, Director FCS &CA Jammu, Rashid Azam Inqalabi, Additional Secretary Arun Kotwal, State Had NIC, Sunil Koul, officers of M/s Linkwel Telesystems Pvt. Limited, Assistant Directors of all the districts of Jammu division and senior officers attended the meeting.
