In a bid to ensure that no person remains hungry during lockdown period, Food, Civic Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Government of Jharkhand is fully committed to provide food grains to every needy and poor. The department has issued free helpline numbers 1967 and 18002125512 so that no needy is deprived of foodgrains.
The department, through a press release informed that from March 23 to April 18 a total of 34,035 calls have been received on helpline number 1967 out of which 17,002 complaints were registered and in 6, 908 cases the caller got food grains. Rest all pending cases the department is trying to provide relief. Most of these cases are from without ration card holders, people stranded outside the State, scarcity of food grains, less quantity of food grains distribution by dealers and black marketing of food grains. The beneficiaries are sending their complaints various means like e-mails, WhatsApp, SMS and others.
The department is also seeking feedback from Panchayat's Mukhiyas that state level PGMS scheme is implementing on ground or not. So far a total of 1981 feedbacks have been received.
On April 18 the department sought clarification from a total of 477 PDS dealers out of which 266 PDS dealers have been suspended due to lack of proper clarification, the licenses have been cancelled of 9 dealers and FIR lodged against 42 dealers. Apart from this a total of 5,291 business organizations have been scrutinized out of which 9 cases reported for taking more than actual rate, 2 cases have been reported for black marketing.
The department is running a total of 377 Mukhyamantri Daal Bhaat centers. Apart from this during lockdown, 537 additional Daal Bhaat centers are being run by the department across the State. At 411 various Police Stations across the State the department is running Daal Bhat Centers. Apart from this a total of 325 Daal Bhaat Center is functioning on demands of various district administrations. There is arrangement to provide Khichadi (boiled mixture of pulses and rice). From March 30 to April 17 a total of 65, 35, 406 beneficiaries have got Khichadi.
The department is providing ration to every ration card holders in April for the months of April and May. Through this a total of 2, 25, 54, 824 families will be benefited and 9, 11, 599 Antodaya families are getting benefit.
Those who have applied for ration card are also getting ten kg food grains and so far more than 2 lakhs family have got grains through the scheme.