Citizen Charter
Consumers are at the end of the chain under the PDS. They are the focal
point of our Charter. Licensees are a part of the delivery system. Employees of the
department are engaged in fulfilling the objectives of the Charter. Cooperative societies
are important link of the delivery chain. NGOs give us the feedback on schemes and are
instrumental in the activities related to consumer protection.
PG Cell is functioning in district office and at
the HO level. The Collector, the Director and the Government monitor complaints regularly.
Instructions regarding right to information concerning various points relevant to the
common man are functional
There
is no regional disparity in the entitlement of food grains across the State. All consumers
are given the food grains on equitable basis. A consumer is allowed to draw his rations up
to 4 times in a month.The prices of food grains and Kerosene are uniform across the
State.The prices are necessarily exhibited outside the FPS.
Local bodies are authorised to issue Ration Cards. For ensuring correct
identification of the beneficiaries under the BPL, Antyodaya and Annapurna category, the
PRIs and the urban local bodies have been involved thoroughly. The addition or deletion of
is decided in an open meeting of the Gramsabha.For issuing ration card a time frame has
been given in the Citizen Charter In cases of rejection, the reasons thereof are to be
recorded and communicated to the applicant.
Consumer prices of various essential commodities
are fixed reasonably so that the gap from the CIP is nominal.
Monthly allotment of essential commodities at State / District
level is released to the press and peoples' representatives. Notice boards are kept
outside each shop to show stock positions, prevalent selling rate and entitlement. The
days on which the shop opens are also notified.
Vigilance
committees are functioning at State / District (District Planning Committee) / Block and
FPS level to monitor the working of the PDS.
Beneficiaries under the State Government's Social
Security Scheme and GoI's NOAP Scheme have been provided BPL Cards in addition to those
covered under the IRDP survey. Inmates of hostels for weaker sections run by the State
Government and Madarsas have also been given BPL Cards.
Information regarding various schemes for the
common man is available with the PRIs. Wide publicity of these schemes has been made
already so that the common man knows whether he is eligible for a particular scheme or
not.
All FPS being in the Co-operative Sector are
indirectly under the control of the people. Therefore, all operations under the PDS are
transparent and known to the people.Attempts have been made to locate the FPSs within 3
Kms of villages. Advance stocking of essential commodities is done in remote areas from
June to October every year. For remote villages mobile vans are sent as needed. Shops open
at least thrice in a week andare required to function even on holidays if it is convenient
to the consumers. Ladies and aged people are to be given priority at a shop if there are
consumers in large numbers
It is ensured that 75% of the monthly allotment of
food grains is compulsorily available on any given day. The FPS submits indent to the lead
society for the food grain requirement. The Collector gives the allotment in such a manner
that there is no shortage for any category of beneficiaries. Collector can also revise
allotment during the month itself as per requirement to ensure regular availability.Every
FPS is entitled for grant in aid for up gradation of its weights and measures, to bring in
modern instruments instead of worn out or tempered ones.
Apex agencies of procurement are FCI / Markfed /
MPSCSC. Through regular monitoring at Government and district level during procurement
period, it is ensured that the farmer gets the payment of his procured quantity latest
within a week.
The points at which a complaint can be given are
1. The Tehsildar's / SDO's Office
2. The Collector's Office.
3. District Co-operative Bank
branch
4. Directorate
A complaint would generally be disposed, and the result of inquiry
communicated to the complainant, within 30 days.
To promote free trade,
a. No upper limit is now fixed to the stock held under any food grain license (For
Pulses, the GoI does have stock limit)
b. There is no restriction on food grain movement within or outside the State. (for
Rice only, levy paid certificate has to be produced).
c.Trader / commission agent / producer can function after getting a single food grain
license. <
Because of the above, the number of returns and
registers to be maintained by the licensee has come down. Licenses are now made for 5
years and for lifetime (20 years). This has eliminated the routine of annual renewal. The
provision of "Deemed license" is now operational so that the trader does not
suffer if his application for a license is not disposed off in prescribed time limit.
To maintain good quality of food grain, interdepartmental committees have
been formed which visit various storage / distribution centers and in case of default, the
substandard stocks are replaced. At the FPS level the samples of various food grains are
displayed at a conspicuous place.
For surveillance of PDS at various levels, committees consisting of
Sarpanch / Janpad President / Minister Incharge and people from various walks of life like
BPL beneficiaries, NGOs, Social Workers, female card holders, traders and concerned
Government servants have been formed.
The District Planning Committee is authorized to punish any Government
official who may be found wanting under the PDS.
Instructions regarding right to information on ration card register, stock
register, sale register etc. were issued in 1998-99. A nominal charge @ Rs 2/- per page is
levied. Information can be obtained at various levels like Link / Lead society, branch of
DCCB, concerned Consumer Store, District Food Office and Directorate of Food. Time limits
have been fixed for all levels.
There are on an average, two Inspectors of Weights and Measures in each
District who by regular tours and checking ensure that the traders get their weights and
measures certified regularly. They also visit other consumer shops so that packaged
commodities are sold as per weight and price shown on the packing. Special Camps for
certification of weights and measures are regularly held in rural areas.
20 Consumer Forums to which 25 other Districts are attached, are already
functioning with a District Judge level presiding officer and members from all walks of
life like Journalists, Women Social Workers and Peoples' Representatives.
The Charter has also prescribed in consonance with the relevant Act time
limit for disposal at original jurisdiction level and time limit for appeal. The Forums
are generally expected to abide by the time limit.
The Citizen Charter adopted by the Department focuses on the above points
and has been fairly successful in achieving the objectives. Procedure simplification,
peoples' participation and inspection have been achieved. The people are also using right
to information. The Charter's success can be judged from the fact that in a course of 1.5
years, 3,17,986 applications were received and 3,17,488 were disposed.
The State Government's prestigious 11-point programme focuses on two
points relating to this Department- regular opening of shops and availability of essential
commodities therein. This feedback has been of immense help in pinpointing the defaulting
Districts and in developing corrective mechanism.
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