There is a need to strengthen the public distribution system (PDS) and the network of food security, the new Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Food Commission, Gurpreet Singh Babra, said on Tuesday.
Babra made the remarks while reviewing the implementation of the National Food Security Act 2013 and Chhattisgarh Food and Nutrition Security Act 2012 at a meeting held at Mahanadi Bhavan (Secretariat) here.
Babra said an action plan should be made to give access to 222 ration shops during the rainy season.
He instructed the transfer of 130 ration shops located in Naxalite-infested areas of Bastar division which are not operating in their original panchayats.
The meeting decided to take immediate action on the recommendations of the quarterly review report related to the implementation of PDS for the last two years.
Babra reviewed ration items such as rice, sugar, salt and jaggery given by fair price shops every month to the beneficiaries of Antyodaya, primary and above poverty line (APL) ration card holders.
Besides, he reviewed the distribution of additional allocation of rice received for migrants from the Central government, Mid-day Meal Scheme, Supplementary Nutrition Diet Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and Rice Scheme for hostels and ashrams.
Babra ordered for special monitoring on the quality of ration items supplied under PDS, Supplementary Nutrition Scheme and Mid-Day Meal Scheme.