As declared by him on Thursday, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Saryu Roy on Friday took stock of functioning of offices through which Public Distribution System is implemented. To begin with, Roy inspected the office of the Ditrcit Supply Officer and the SOR office in Ranchi.
During the inspection, the minister took information as to how the DSO and the SOR are ensuring effective implementation of the PDS system. Roy asked DSO Manoj Kumar and SOR SB Mehra whether any permanent order has been issued by the department to control the PDS system in the State. The officials said that there was no such order.
The Minister then asked on what grounds the PDS shops are suspended or dismissed and empanelled or selectedIJ He was told that the work is done by the office of SDO and the department does not get any information of the same.
On the question of Roy as to whether the Block Supply officer and Rationing Officers submit fortnightly reports or not, the officials said that they do not get the reports. The issues are discussed in meetings.
During the inspection it was found that the Offices of the SDO, DSO and the Rationing Officer lack coordination and cooperation. The Minister also took information on end to end computerisation, grant of hand held devices to the dealers and biometric system. He was informed that AGMs are being trained and the work was on the verge of completion.
The fact that came out during the inspection was that in adistrcit the supply cell of the SDO office and the Distrcit Supply Office were working on parallel basis and there was lack of coordination in both the offices. This ultimately result s in shortcomings and makes the work of the department difficult.