FCSCA

Mission, vision, objectives, citizen charter

The primary policy objective of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (J&K) to ensure food security for UT of J&K through timely and efficient procurement and distribution of food grains. This involves procurement of various PDS items, building up and maintenance of food stocks, their storage, movement and delivery to the distributing agencies and monitoring of production, stock and price levels of food grains.

The main motives of the Department are;

·       To strengthen the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

·       To ensure easy availability of Essential Commodities on reasonable rates.

·       To create awareness amongst the consumers about their rights.

The objectives are achieved through a network of Sale Outlets across the District and thus a population of 7.35 lakh is being provided food grains (Rice, Atta Sugar) under National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA-2013) and Jammu & Kashmir Food Entitlement Scheme (JKFES) throughout the length and breadth of the District. The food grains are distributed through a network of 534 Sale outlets, out of which 221 are Government run Sale Outlets and 313 are Fair Price Shops (on commission basis). Besides, the office is authorized to monitor the sale of K-Oil, LPG and Petroleum Products;

Constitutional, legal and administrative frameworks

The Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, J&K is responsible for the formulation of policies for monitoring prices, availability of all essential commodities, consumer movement in the State and controlling of statutory bodies like Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Weights and Measures. The Office of the Assistant Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Budgam functions under the Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Kashmir.

The Department enforces the Essential Commodities Act 1955 and controls orders issued thereunder to ensure proper control of the Supply various distribution, trade and commerce in certain commodities. The Department also administers the Targeted Public Distribution (TPDS) which is an important constituent of the strategy for Food Security to the population of Below Poverty Line.

Plans, programmes, schemes and projects

NFSA defines the joint responsibility of the Centre and State/UT Government. While the Centre is responsible for allocation of required foodgrains to States/UTs, transportation of foodgrains up to designated depots in each State/UT and providing central assistance to States/UTs for delivery of foodgrains from designated FCI godowns to the doorstep of the FPSs, the States/UTs are responsible for effective implementation of the Act, which inter-alia includes identification of eligible households, issuing ration cards to them, distribution of foodgrain entitlements to eligible households through fair price shops (FPS), issuance of licenses to Fair Price Shop dealers and their monitoring, setting up effective grievance redressal mechanism and necessary strengthening of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

Services offered

The Department is mainly involved in allocation, transportation and distribution of PDS items to the consumers at affordable prices ensuring food security to underprivileged sections of the society.  The Department is also responsible for the formulation of policies for monitoring prices, availability of all essential commodities, consumer movement enforces the Essential Commodities Act 1955 and controls orders issued thereunder to ensure proper control of the Supply various distribution, trade and commerce in certain commodities

Publications and reports

Publications and Report can be retrieved from Departmental Websites;

jkfcsca.gov.in &

capdkashmir.nic.in

Feedback

capdbudgam@gmail.com

Notice Board

Notices regarding the Department can also be had from official websites as given below.

jkfcsca.gov.in &

capdkashmir.nic.in

FAQ and Help

1.     What is the Targeted Public Distribution System? What are the various entitlements being given under the scheme?

In June 1997, the Government of India launched the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) with focus on the poor.

·        TPDS is operated under the joint responsibility of Central Government and State/Union Territory (UT) Governments. The Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of food grains up to the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India. The operational responsibilities for lifting and distributing the allocated food grains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, issuance of ration cards to them and supervision over distribution of allocated food grains to eligible card holders through the fair price shops are that of the State/UT Governments.

·        Government of India has been making allocations of food grains to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) on the basis of 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning Commission and March 2000 population estimates of Registrar General of India or the number of such families actually identified and ration cards issued to them by the State/UT Governments, whichever is less. Government of India has been making allocation of subsidized food grains for all the accepted number of 6.52 crore BPL families including about 2.42 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families @ 35 kg per family per month. Allocation of subsidized food grains are also made to Above Poverty Line (APL) families based on the availability of food grains in the Central pool and past offtake. Presently, the allocation of food grains to APL families to the States/UTs range between 15 kg. and 35 kg. per family per month. However, these allocations will change under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, details of which may be seen under the FAQs relating to NFSA, 2013.

·        Further, Government makes allocation of food grains for other welfare schemes such as Midday Meal Scheme and Wheat Based Nutrition Programme under ICDS, Nutritional Programme for Adolescent Girls, Annapurna Scheme and Emergency Feeding Programme, etc. Govt. also makes additional allocation of food grains from time to time depending upon the availability of food grains in stocks and requirements/requests received from the State/UT Governments.

2.     What are the entitlements for food grains under NFSA?

Every person belonging to identified eligible households is entitled to receive 5 Kg of food grains per person per month at subsidized prices under TPDS. The existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute the poorest of the poor, will continue to receive 35 Kg of food grains per household per month.

3.     Where can I lodge my grievance?

States/UTs have established toll free Helpline numbers for redressal and registration of grievances under TPDS. Consumers of Jammu & Kashmir can lodge their grievances on 1967/ 18001807011

Personnel

1. Assistant Director (Div. Cadre) 2. Tehsil Supply Officers (Div. Cadre) 3. SKs/ ASKs (Div. Cadre)