TS Govt serious on resolving problems of ration dealers: CV Anand

Commissioner for Civil Supplies C.V. Anand on Wednesday said that the Telangana Government was serious on resolving the problems being faced by the ration dealers in the State. He assured that he would take the problems to the notice of government and find solutions.

In view of strike call from August 1st given by some unions, for last two days (Tuesday, and Wednesday), Anand held meetings with union leaders at Civil Supplies Bhavan. He conducted meeting with union members

Also he had a brief meeting with DCSO’s on alternate arrangements if the dealers go for strike call. He said government is in positive approach to solve ration dealers problems, in this situation if they still call for, the dealers alone will lose. So, DCSO’s should make district level and mandal level meetings with dealers and clarify this matter to them.

The Commissioner said that government is taking steps to increase commission and also to improve revenue earning methods of the ration dealers. He requested to dealers not to lose this good opportunity in this pleasant situation. Some decisions are already been taken by the government. If they still take hasty decision to go for strike, then alternative methods will be taken to ensure that people are not suffered, he said.

“Steps are taken to increase income of dealers by starting refinement of ration shops. In this part, cashless transactions are started by introducing ePos machines in all the ration shops. Till now in seven districts this system is completed. In one or two months time all over the state it will be fully implemented. In future ration shops will be turned to mini banks. The ration dealers’ earnings will increase. By introducing ePos machines all the transactions will be linked with Aadhaar cards. Turning ration shops to mini super markets is also under probation. Increase in dealers’ commission, honour wage issues will be taken to the notice of government. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will take decision on this. Till then be patient and support government,” the Commissioner said.

Anand said that the government has identified that there was variation of weight which is coming from the godown. Steps will be taken to overcome it. Officials are designated to prepare proposal to setup weighing bridges state wide at all the 171 godowns. In one or two days clear orders will be issued for allowing 1.5 % variations on whole stock.

On this occasion Ration Dealers’ Welfare Association representatives told the Commissioner that they should be given honorary wage of Rs. 30,000, loans without interest to pay Demand Drafts, Insurance and Health Card facility.

FCI asked to provide adequate storage space

After straightening the recalcitrant millers into surrendering the custom milled rice (CMR) due from them, the Civil Supplies department is facing an unexpected problem, as the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is not providing sufficient storage space.

Citing this as the reason, the millers have sought extension of deadline up to September 30, for surrender of the CMR, instead of the earlier August 31.

Commissioner, Civil Supplies, C.V.Anand held a joint meeting with FCI representatives and rice millers on Wednesday, and requested the former to assign required storage space to the millers. Complaints pertaining to storage issues are coming mainly from Peddapalli, Jagityal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, and Nalgonda districts, he said, and brought it to their notice that the department will face losses if CMR submission is delayed.

This Rabi, the department has purchased 37.15 lakh Metric Tonnes of paddy from farmers and handed over to the rice millers for milling. For this, millers should surrender 26 lakh MTs of rice to the government by August 31. Till now 8.76 lakh MTs boiled and 44,000 MTs raw rice is surrendered to FCI, a note from the department said.

Rice millers expressed concern as the rice is stocked in lorry for days laying outside FCI godowns and getting wet due to rains.

Goa minister lauds IT usage in Telangana civil supplies dept

Goa Information Technology Minister  has lauded the use of infotech in the civil supplies department of the Telangana government which has helped in curbing illegal transport of essential commodities distributed under public distribution system (PDS).

 Goa Information Technology Minister and Goa IT Secretary today visited the Command Control Centre in Civil Supplies Bhavan here.

According to an official release, Telangana Commissioner of Civil Supplies C V Anand explained the functioning of the centre to them.

During the meeting, the minister appreciated the use of IT in the civil supplies department in curbing illegal transport of essential commodities, the release said.

"Transport of ration rice to the black market has stopped after the Command Control Centre became operational. Removing irregularities in public distribution system and providing essential commodities to the eligible beneficiaries by using technology is very much appreciable," minister said.

Anand said application of technology helps in bringing transparency and accountability in the system, thereby curbing corruption.

An IT wing has been set up in the civil supplies department and about 1,700 closed circuit cameras are being installed in 171 godowns statewide. Also, similar command control centres are being set up in district joint collector offices, the commissioner added.

Monitoring of transportation of PDS rice from the Command Control Centre here has led to a drop in its diversion to the black market, Anand told the visiting minister.