C.V.Anand on Central Deputation

Civil Supplies Commissioner C.V. Anand who was credited with streamlining the functioning of the department after he joined from the police has been appointed as Inspector General in Central Industrial Security Force on deputation basis.

Re-checking of food security card applications

The Telangana Civil Services Department will embark on a physical verification of over 1.25 lakh food security card applications it has received. The move is expected to weed out several dubious applications.

According to officials, the department received as many as 2.2 lakh applications last nine months. While about a lakh applications had been scrutinised, the deluge of applications had raised suspicion which is why a thorough re-verification will be done.

“Prima facie checks have been done. But now, we have decided to do more stringent checking of the applications as we believe several bogus applications have come. This will include a re-checking of all eligibility criteria such as income and other parameters,” Commissioner of Civil Supplies C.V. Anand said.

An on the ground physical check will be done by assistant supply officers and others. A meeting with civil supplies staff will be called to work out the details in the near future.

“A section of the card holders do not consume the goods and instead sell it off. They are encouraged by the dealers and others to indulge in these activities,” Mr. Anand said.

He maintained that pilferage had been drastically reduced after electronic point of sale machines were introduced at fair price shops. The raids by the department’s enforcement teams had seized rice after the sale was made to beneficiaries. 

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.