Date:28/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/28/stories/2008052860641200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Supply of quality products being ensured in PDS shops

Special Correspondent

Civil Supplies Department holds first-ever grievance meeting; cardholders’ cooperation sought to prevent pilferage

Photo: A. Muralitharan

ALL EARS: The first-ever grievance meeting of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department in progress in Medavakkam on Tuesday. —

CHENNAI: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection E.V.Velu on Tuesday said the State government has ensured that only good quality essential commodities are distributed through fair price shops.

He said this while appealing to family cardholders to cooperate with the government to prevent pilferage.

Speaking after launching the first in the series of grievance meeting organised by the Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department at the Government Model High School in Medavakkam, near here, he said the government was serious about initiating action against those who connived in pilfering goods meant for ration cardholders under the public distribution system.

A couple of employees were recently arrested on charges of diverting essential commodities from fair price shops to the open market.

“Many people apply for ration cards but do not buy anything and the essential commodities are bought by others who sell them in the open market,” he said, adding it was the beginning of a vicious cycle that resulted in smuggling of essential commodities.

There were also instances when salesmen and staff supplied goods much below the stipulated quantity. “You should protest and lodge a complaint with senior officials without hesitation and delay,” the Minister said, adding it was not mandatory to purchase all the commodities at one go and that the cardholders could make more than one visit to purchase what was due to them in instalments.

Many government departments were organising interactions with people and the Civil Supplies Department too had planned a similar grievance meeting for ration cardholders and those who did not seek them. An announcement to this effect was made in the Assembly and from now, regular grievance meetings would be held throughout the State, Mr. Velu said.

Bifurcation of zones

Another decision the department would soon be taking following the announcement in the Assembly was bifurcation of Tambaram and Ambattur Zones. Tambaram Zone was huge with 2.42 lakh cardholders being served by 122 fair price shops. Soon, it would be bifurcated and a new zone created in Sholinganallur, Mr. Velu said.

Acknowledging that his department was aware of the problems faced by cardholders on various fronts, he appealed to applicants to enclose all the relevant documents so that they got their cards on time. “If all papers are in place, new cards would be delivered in 60 days,” Mr. Velu said, adding that those who had applied for new cards at the Tuesday’s grievance meeting would get them in a month’s time.

Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Commissioner K. Rajaraman said monthly grievance meetings would be held on every second Saturday in the 14 Zones in and around Chennai, while it would be held on every second Friday in all taluks of the rest of district of the State. The venue would change and people would be informed about the same.

At Tuesday’s meeting, grievances pertaining to delay in getting new cards topped the list, Mr.Rajaraman said. They also received complaints about short-measurement of kerosene and erratic supply of essential commodities.

K. Phanindra Reddy, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and Tambaram MLA S.R.Raja spoke.