Uttarakhand Principal Secretary (Food and Civil Supply) Radha Raturi has appealed to the members of Uttarakhand Government Fair Price Shop Council to cooperate with the State administration in effectively implementing National Food Security Scheme. The digitalisation of new ration cards under the scheme has been completed. PDS dealers need to ensure that ration is given to the new ration card holders as per the norm fixed under the scheme. Raturi said this after a delegation of Uttarakhand Government Fair Price Shop Council met her and sought redressal of their pending demands.
The delegation members submitted a memorandum addressed to the State Government highlighting their demands on Friday. She assured the members that their demands will be put before the Chief Minister for redressal. PDS dealers should not worry about their demands as the State Government would take care of their concerns.
“But they need to ensure that food grains are provided to the ration card holders under NFS scheme on time,” she added.
The demands put by the PDS dealers include increase in profit on sold food items under NFS Scheme, strengthening marketing and firming up of a broad policy to help their income rise.
In Himachal Pradesh and other states, PDS shopkeepers are allowed to operate PDS in mini-cooperative stores. Customers are being given food items at cheaper rates, she said. She directed the chief marketing officer to study the mini cooperative store concept and submit a report to her regarding the same. The State Government is mulling to provide marketing for self help groups, she stressed.
The State Government having limited resources, the work plan is being made accordingly. She directed the chief marketing officer to strengthen marketing at RFC Godown. The officers were directed to convene a meeting with PDS dealers from time to time for the redressal of their grievances. Among those present on the occasion were Deputy Commissioner Food and Civil Supply NC Semwal, Uttarakhand Government Fair Price Shop Council president Jitendra Gupta, Secretary Rakesh Mohan Gupta, council member Rakesh Mahendra and others.