From Sandeep Sharma
GUWAHATI, June 26: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday directed the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department to seize the ration cards of the people who are not eligible for the benefits.
Reviewing the operational status of National Food Security Act (NFSA) in a meeting with the officials of food & civil supply and consumer affairs department, cooperation department and registrar of cooperative societies, the chief minister directed the FCS&CA department to take steps for withdrawal of ration cards from all ineligible beneficiaries above poverty line.
Sarma also asked the department to amend rules to ensure Rs.143 to every fair price shop as transportation charge for each quintal of ration.
Further saying that from now onwards, the FCS&CA department will be allocated funds from the budget for providing to all village panchayat cooperative societies, the chief minister observed that such steps would significantly benefit the poor people.
The chief minister also stressed on minimizing transportation cost of essential commodities and said that now onwards the cooperative societies will have to play the role of supervisors to ensure proper implementation of NFSA.
The chief minister also directed to rationalize the number of fair price shops according to the number of ration card holders.
State agriculture and cooperation minister Atul Bora, additional chief secretary (FCS&CA) BR Samal, additional chief secretary (cooperation) Maninder Singh, principal secretary to the chief minister Samir Kumar Sinha, registrar of cooperative societies Manoj Kumar and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
