Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah has said that lacunae in targeted public distribution system (TPDS) must be removed completely for the successful implementation of Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana under the Food Security Act.
He said that the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana is among top priority schemes of the State Government and is directly connected with the poor in the State. Shah was addressing a workshop pertaining to computerisation of the public distribution system here on Tuesday.
He said that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wishes that no one sleeps hungry in the State. The Food Minister informed that 5,04,000 people have been brought under the ambit of Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana so far.
Under the scheme, 14.78 lakh families are being provided wheat and rice at the rate of Rs 1 per kg. In coming years 22,165 fair price shops will be upgraded to ideal shops in the State. Consumers will be provided all basic amenities there. The Food Minister informed that constant changes are being made to improve public distribution system. He informed that the PDS will be computerised cent per cent in the six districts where aadhar number enrolment process is 90 per cent complete.
Shah said that ration shops will be opened gram panchayat-wise. He informed that Rs 11 crore is being provided to upgrade 11 fair price shops as ideal shops in Barwani district. Principal Secretary Food & Civil Supplies Ashok Varnwal informed that district officers’ responsibilities will increase after computerisation. He informed that action should be taken to control prices under Essential Commodities Act. The Principal Secretary directed for action under this Act as per guidance of Collectors.
Commissioner Food and Civil Supplies Manohar Agnani said that Rs 7.95 crore has been received from the Centre for end-to-end computerisation of PDS. He informed that computers will be made available at district and development block levels. State Civil Supplies Corporation’s MD Neelam Shami Rao also spoke on the occasion. Warehousing Corporation’s MD Chandrahas Dube was also present.