Civil Supplies enforcement teams prevent ₹500-cr. misuse

The enforcement wing set up in the Civil Supplies Department to check diversion of commodities in the public distribution system (PDS), mainly rice, and other irregularities has acted as a deterrent and prevented the misuse to the tune of ₹500 crore.

Commissioner of Civil Supplies C.V. Anand, who reviewed the performance of the enforcement wing here on Sunday, said the ‘experiment’ was initiated on February 1 last year with five teams comprising retired officials from the police, revenue, commercial taxes and other departments to check irregularities in processing, transportation and quality norms. The new initiative had prevented diversion of rice to the black market and saved ₹500 crore to the exchequer.

“It has also helped in curbing corruption, pilferages and malpractices to a large extent in the supply of essential commodities including rice”, Mr. Anand said adding that the expenditure on the team of officers selected “taking into consideration their employment history, honesty, commitment and hard work” was mere ₹1.25 crore for the past one year.

He explained that the enforcement teams were given the responsibility of preventing illegal movement of PDS rice, check on government and private godowns, vehicle checking in two stages, changes in transactions before and after introduction of the ePOS machines, performance of GPS and supply chain management.

The teams had conducted 843 raids and special checks on mandal-level godowns, fair price shops, custom milled rice mills, institutions getting supply of super fine (‘sanna biyyam’) quality rice, LPG godowns and others during the last one year.

Stating that the inspection had resulted in booking of 165 cases under Section 6(A) of the Essential Commodities Act and 71 criminal cases, the Civil Supplies Commissioner noted that the team had also seized 12,619 quintals of PDS rice, 2,619 quintals of custom-milled rice and paddy worth ₹3.60 crore. Further, the checks had also resulted in seizure of sugar, LPG cylinders, kerosene and other commodies worth ₹3.90 lakh.

Besides, the surprise checks and inspections, helped the department detect shortage and prevented the misappropriation of paddy, sanna biyyam and PDS rice to the extent of ₹6.39 crore. With the vigil maintained by the enforcement teams the district collectors of Khamman, Nalgonda and Suryapet had registered four preventive detention cases against traders, Mr. Anand explained.

Better menu on cards for prisoners in Telangana

Finance Department clears proposal to provide fine rice along with dal, curry and curd on regular basis.

Civil Supplies Commissioner C V Anand inspecting the quality of food being served to prisoners during a visit to the Chanchalguda central prison.

Enter every financial transaction in FMS: Anand orders officials

Civil Supplies Commissioner C.V. Anand has directed his department officials to compulsorily enter day-to-day financial transactions in Financial Management System (FMS), which allows officials to view them online together at one place. “We introduced FMS software so that officials can view every single transaction, but some of the members were not following this and not entering the details. If this situation continues, we will not hesitate to suspend the officials concerned”, he warned.

The Commissioner held a review meeting with District Managers, Assistant Managers on Tuesday at Civil Supplies Bhavan. They discussed about finance, internal audit, MLS points, LPG, Reconciliation at Petrol Bunks, PDS, Marketing and on Rabi Action Plan. The Commissioner said the district officials should spend any amount with permission from the Head Office. It came in light that some of the officials were flouting the order. He warned that such dealings will not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against the defaulters.

The Commissioner said for purchasing furniture or any other item, appointing outsourcing employees should be done with permission from Head Office. The district offices should cut short their expenses, he clarified. Special checks, accounts, transport and godowns should be more intense, whereas it was not coming into practice. From now, every district manager should make special checks at MLS points, Buffer godowns and godown reconciliation should be immediately completed, he added.

Anand said every month similar meetings will be conducted with District Managers, Assistant Managers (Technical) and DCSOs. If necessary, funds should to taken from Head Office and taking funds unnecessarily and parking them in banks will leave financial burden on the Department and every officer should keep this in mind, he cautioned. 

Diagnostic facility in Kamareddy asked to pay Rs 3.1L to couple

Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies CV Anand on Tuesday handed over a cheque of Rs 3.11 lakh as compensation to a couple who complained against a diagnostic facility in Kamareddy district.

Parashuram and Swapna, from Bikkanuru village of the district, alleged that the staff of Sri Venkatsai Scanning and X-ray Centre did not detect a congenital deformity in the spine of their unborn baby girl. Swapna, during her pregnancy, had undergone scanning on multiple occasions at the scanning centre and yet the specialists there were unable to detect the deformity, they alleged.

n May, 2017, Swapna gave birth to a girl at RR Hospital in Kamareddy and immediately after the delivery the doctors said the infant had spinal abnormalities and needed corrective surgeries. The couple visited several super-specialty hospitals in Hyderabad before surgeons at Star Hospitals conducted the procedure.

With the couple ending up spending close to Rs 5 lakh on the surgery, they called up the consumer toll free (1800 42500 333) number of the Civil Supplies Department and submitted a written complaint on the scanning centre.

The Consumer Redressal Forum of the Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Department arbitrated the couple’s complaint. It sent notices to the scanning centre in December 2017 and within 20 days the facility issued a compensation cheque worth Rs 3.11 lakh. “We are grateful to the Consumer Forum because we did not have the financial resources to pursue a civil case against the diagnostic centre in court. The Consumer Forum officials managed to deliver justice to us,” the couple said.

Ration commodities to be distributed from 1st to 15th of every month

Civil Supplies Departments has taken new reforms to ensure beneficiaries must get ration supply from 1st of every month in this New Year. For this major changes are been taken in Transportation, Closing Balance (CB) and Release Order (RO) dates.

Commissioner for Civil Supplies C.V. Anand said from now onwards we will ensure that beneficiaries will get their commodities from 1st of every month by using modern technology. Immediately it will come to effect in the districts where ePos is in implementation. From 1st to 15th of every month commodities will be distributed at Ration shops. 

On 16th commodities will be provided to districts from Civil Supplies Head Office. 

For this ration dealers have to pay DD’s between 16th & 18th at Mee Seva Centres. Regional ACSO’s / MRO’s will immediately issue Release Orders of the Dealers who paid DD’s to the Mandal Level Stockist (MLS) Point. 

As soon as godown incharge receives release order commodity distribution will start. Stage-II transporters will deliver stock from MLS points to ration shops from 16th to 30th of every month. 

Stage-I transport contractors will carry commodities to Civil Supplies Mandal Level godowns from 1st to 15th of every month.

Commissioner suggested Joint Collectors to take special attention on this new policy. Joint Collectors should conduct regular meetings every month with DCSO’s, ACSO’s, Civil Supply Department District Managers, Deputy Tahasildars, Enforcement Teams, Stage-I, Stage-II Contractors, Godown incharges. As per government initiatives steps should be taken to every eligible beneficiary to avail commodities.