Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that packet of 5 kg foodgrains will be made available to shops in a single block on the pilot project soon. This will remove consumers' complaints related to it. After the success of this pilot project, it will be implemented in the entire State, said the CM during the State level meeting with PDS shopkeepers at RIMS Auditorium here on Tuesday.
The CM said that the PDS shop owners always demand honorarium but they don't understand that it is given to the government employees. “In the past commission of Rs 45 was increased to Rs 100. To increase your income, the government permits all of you to have grocery items in the ration shop but there should not be any items of PDS. For the grocery store, the government will also provide Mudra Loan,” he said.
Das said that for the smooth operation of the public distribution system, the State government will also provide an amount of Rs.1000 per month besides the commission paid to them.
The CM said that PDS shopkeepers have been involved in covering the poor with Ujjwala scheme. “With your cooperation 29 lakh poor families has been benefited from the scheme. Now, the remaining 14 lakh poor families have to be given benefits to the scheme. Your cooperation has also helped in giving benefit of Ayushman Bharat to poor. All of you will also get the benefit of this scheme. Government will take decision in this regard soon,” he said.
Das said that the list of consumers who are not taking ration should be made available to the District Supply Officer. Prioritize this task. After getting the list, the names of those who have been left will be benefited.
Secretary, Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Department, Amitabh Kaushal said that the ration shopkeepers should help in providing ration card to elderly, sick and people living alone. Dealer should not keep the ration card of any consumer with themselves. Make grains available to consumers in the right measure. Efforts are being made to get rid of the problem of network. Ration shopkeeper also ensure that the receipt of grain given to the consumer through E-POS machine is also done.
On this occasion, ration shoppers who came from all the blocks of the state were present and they also put forward their problem to the CM.