|
Home > |
Functions of the
Department |
|
Updated on May, 2022 |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
(ii) PRIORITY HOUSEHOLD: As per the NFSA, 2013, every person belonging to Priority Household shall be entitled to receive 5 Kg. of foodgrains per person per month at subsidized rates. The State of H.P. has bifurcated 3 Kg. of Wheat /2.800 Kg. Wheat Atta and 2 Kg. of Rice per person. The retail issue price is Rs. 2/- for Wheat/ Rs. 3.20 for Wheat Atta and Rs. 3/- for Rice per Kg. The additional Wheat/Wheat Atta & Rice is being provided to BPL families (upto 6 member) from tide over allocation of the State to make their entitlement 35 Kg.
The |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2. OTHER THAN NFSA: ABOVE POVERTY LINE (APL): The scale of APL Wheat Atta & Rice is being changed every month depending upon the availability of stocks with the H.P. State Civil Supplies Corporation. These scales are uniformly applicable throughout the State except tribal areas of the State (Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi, Bharmour) where 20 Kg. of Wheat/ 18.800 Kg. Wheat Atta and 15 Kg. of Rice per family per month are being distributed monthly to APL card holders w.e.f September, 2014. 3.SUGAR: Note
:- In case of AAY families having 1 member & 2 member, 1Kg. sugar will be
provided per month and for more than 2 members, 500 Gms additional sugar will
be provided to each AAY families member @ Rs. 13/- per Kg. (B) GOVERNMENT OF H.P. STATE SPECIALLY SUBSIDIZED SCHEME:
The Govt. of H.P. has launched a State Specially Subsidized Scheme to all
ration card holders w.e.f. 01.04.2007, which has been modified from time to
time. The consumers will be given choice to opt for 3 pulses out of 4
pulses. The status of the scheme is as
follows: (As on March,2022)
II. MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLIES OUTSIDE TPDS: (1) LPG: Currently,
there are 189 LPG agencies in the State and are catering to the needs of
10,48,007 SBC and 12,16,001 (Total= 22,64,008) DBC holders. The department
exercises holistic control and keeps a strict vigil on the distribution of
LPG and ensures equitable procurement as well as distribution throughout the
State in order to keep a balance between demand and supply.
There are 189 gas agencies out of which 136 are with IOC,31 with HPC 22 with
the BPC. (2) MS AND HSD:
There are 512 petrol pumps functional in the State, out of which, 275 with
IOC, 136 with HPC, 91 with BPC and 10 with other companies. III. MUKHYAMANTRI GRIHNI SUVIDHA YOJNA: This scheme is one of the main scheme out of 30 schemes
announced in the Budget Speech by the Honble Chief Minister for the year
2018-19. The main motives of the scheme are women empowerment and environment
protection. All eligible families who do not have LPG gas connection, will
get free gas connection. For the year 2021-22 under this scheme, 10 Crore
budget provision have been done by the Govt.
Around 3.31 lakh free gas connections have been issued under the
scheme till now. The free gas connections are being distributed under this
scheme.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The population of the State as based on the ration cards is 74,26,295 as on 31/03/2022 and taking 15 Kgs. of food-grains as an average consumption per unit, the requirement of food grains comes to 111394 M.Ts. per month and 13.37 Lac M.Ts. per annum. Due to easy availability of food grains, there is no restriction on inter state movement at present. The requirement of foodgrains under the TPDS is being made by the Govt. of India to the State on historic basis, through the Food Corporation of India for which this deptt. is required to make advance financial arrangements with the F.C.I through the H.P. State Civil Supplies Corpn. Ltd. to procure the allotted and required quantity from the declared principal distribution centers of the F.C.I. The sub-allocation of food grains and the financial arrangements thereof is made as per the requirement placed by the District Officers. At present, 35 Principal Distribution Centres of F.C.I. are functioning in the State i.e. 12 at each district headquarter and the remaining 23 at Bharmour, Tisa, Baijnath, Dehra, Rampur Bushar, Hatkoti, Karsog,Naura-Dhar,Sarkaghat,Jaisinghpur,Killar(Pangi),Kaza,Janjehli,Banjar,Udaipur,Dodrakawar,Chopal, Narkanda,Anni,Pooh,Arki,Bara-bangal & Shillai. Under the T.P.D.S. network the State Govt. is required to arrange lifting of food grains through the H.P. State Civil Supplies Corpn. Ltd. from the declared P.D.Cs of F.C.I. and arrange its transportation to its wholesale godowns for further distribution to fair price shops as per their requirements. |
||
|
|
The State of Himachal Pradesh depends upon all the Essential
Commodities from Neighboring States of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi for its
requirement. The price fluctuation in the wholesale market of the neighboring
States directly influences the wholesale and retail prices in the Pradesh.
The State Government has practically no control over the prevailing prices at
the source. However, the Government has been exercising control over the
availability and prices of Essential Commodities in the open market by
enforcing various statutory provisions under the following Acts and Control
Orders:- |
|
1. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955. 10. H.P. Consumer Protection Rules, 1998. |
|
The brief introduction of the above mentioned Acts and Orders are as under: 1. THE
ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT, 1955: It is a Central Act to
provide, in the interests of the general public, for the control of the
production, supply, and distribution of, and trade and commerce in, certain
commodities.
Vide this order the Officer/Official
of the Food and Supplies and Consumer Affairs Deptt. are empowered for
detention in certain cases for the purpose of prevention of black-marketing
and maintenance of supplies of commodities essential to the
community/consumers and for the matter connected therewith. 3. H.P. SPECIFIED ESSENTIAL
COMMODITIES (REGULATION OF DISTRIBUTION) ORDER, 2019: 4. THE LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS
(REGULATION AND DISTRIBUTION) ORDER, 2000: Vide this Act, the Govt.
has empowered the Officer/Official of the Food and Supplies Deptt. for
maintaining or increasing the supply o f Bricks for their equitable
distribution and availability at fair price and it may by order notified in
the Official Gazetteer, provide for regulating by licenses, permits or
otherwise the manufacture, storage distribution, transport, acquisition of
disposal of Bricks, for collecting any information or statistics with a view
to the regulation of the aforesaid matters, for grant or issue of licenses,
permits or other documents and the charging of fee therefore, for controlling
the price at which bricks may be bought or sold, for requiring dealers or kin
owners to maintain and produce for inspection such accounts and records
regarding bricks and to furnish such information relating thereto, as may be
specified to in the order. 6. The H.P. BRICKS
(CONTROL) ACT, 1970: This order lays down
detailed provisions and procedure for obtaining licenses for brick-kilns as also for fixation of sale rate for
bricks manufactured by such brick-kilns. 7. THE MOTOR SPIRIT AND
HIGH SPEED DIESEL (PREVENTION OF MALPRACTICES IN SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION)
ORDER, 2005: Under
this order, the supply of Motor spirit and High Speed Diesel through the
network of Public Distribution System is being regularized. 8.
KEROSENE (RESTRICTION ON USE AND FIXATION OF CEILING PRICE ORDER, 1993: This order lays down the procedure for obtaining
the licenses for Kerosene dealers dealing in Kerosene through the network of
Public Distribution System. 9.
CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2019: This Act lay down detailed provisions and procedures
for redressel of grievances and to provide for better protection of the
interests of the consumers and for that purpose to make provisions for the
establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement
of consumers, disputes and for matter connected therewith.
These
rules are made under sub clause 2 of clause 30 of the Consumer Protection
Act, 1986. Vide these rules, the three-tier system of the consumer forums are
defined. Vide this system, the functions, sittings, staff and salary etc. of
the Distt. Forum, State Commission and National Commission are clarified. 11. THE EDIBLE OIL (PACKAGING AND
REGULATION) ORDER, 1998: This
order is strictly enforced by the State Goa, which would minimize
contamination, maintain hygienic conditions, check deterioration in quality,
ensure correct weight and provide information in respect of its contents,
price and date of manufacture. The State of H.P. has empowered the
Officers/Officials of the Food and Supplies Deptt. for implementation of the
order. 12. PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
(CONTROL) ORDER, 2015: This
order is mainly meant for the smoothly functioning of the Targeted Public Distribution
System in various States. The State of H.P. has already issued H.P. Specified
Essential Commodities (Regulation of Distribution) Order, 2019. This order
lay down the provisions and proceedings for distribution if specified
commodities to the consumers through the Distribution Card (ration card) in
the fair price shops, which are regulated under the network of Targeted
Public Distribution System. 13. THE Solvent reffinate and Slop
(Acquisition, Sale, Storage and Prevention of use in Automobiles) Order,
2000: This
order has been issued by the Govt. of India for the purpose of restriction on
sale and use of solvents, reffinates, slops and other products, this order
lays down detailed provisions and procedure for obtaining license, for
acquire, store or sell solvent, raffinate, slops or their equivalent and
other products issued by the State Govt. or the District Magistrate or any
other officer authorized by the Central/State Govt. According to this order
no person shall either use or help in any manner the user of solvents,
raffinated, slops or their equivalent or other products expect Motor Spirit
and High Speed Diesel in any automobile. 14. Naptha (Acquisition, Sale, Storage
and Prevention of use in Automobiles) Order, 2000: This
order has been issued by the Govt. of India for the purpose of restriction on
sale and use of Naptha. This order lays down detailed provisions and
procedure for obtaining license, for acquire, store or sell Naptha issued by
the State Govt. or the District Magistrate or any other officer authorized by
the State Govt. According to this order no person shall either use or help in
any manner the user of Naptha expect Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel
and/or any other fuel permitted by the Central Govt. in any automobile. 15. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation
of Use in Motor Vehicles) Order, 2001: This order has been issued by the Govt. of India for the purpose of acquire, store for sale, supply, fill or distributed auto LPG to a consumer expect according to the provisions contained in this order. According to this order no person shall store, supply, sell or dispense auto LPG unless he is auto LPG dispensing dealer. This order enables the Department to check over the acquire, store for sale, supply, fill or distributed auto LPG to a consumers according to the provisions. |
|
MONITORING OF PRICES |
|
In order to keep vigil over the prices in Shimla Town, the retail prices of 18 essential commodities are being collected on Daily basis. The retail & wholesale prices of 18 essential commodities are being collected on Weekly (Wednesday) basis from Shimla & Mandi towns. Further, the retail & wholesale prices in respect of 24 commodities alongwith the retail prices of 14 vegetables are also being collected on Weekly (Friday) basis from all the District Headquarters and as per the trend analysis, the results are conveyed to the State Government. The retail and whole sale prices 22 essential commodities are being feeded by the eight centres i.e. Shimla, Mandi, Dharamshala, Solan, Bilaspur, Una, Chamba & Hamirpur on daily basis in the Govt. of India Website. |
|
ALLOCATION AND
LIFTING |
|
In Himachal Pradesh, all the essential commodities are procured from neighboring states. The State is not self sufficient in the production of food grains and to meet out the requirement, the public mostly remains dependent on the neighboring states, as well as upon the Govt. of India for the allocation of wheat and rice under the T.P.D.S. |
||
|
|
Himachal Pradesh being hilly and having snow bound terrain, the Department had to remain vigilant for the management of buffer storage of food grains. There are 117 Godowns having a storage capacity of 59,863 MTS. |
|
|
RATION CARDS |
|
RATION
CARDS FOR P.D.S For
the distribution of Targeted Public Distribution System food grains, a Ration
Card is issued on the name of Head of the family under the provisions of H.P.
Specified Essential Commodities (Regulation of Distribution) Order, 2019. In
Urban Areas, a ration card is issued by concerned Food & Supplies
Officer/Inspector (FCS&CA) and in Rural Areas, by the concerned Panchayat
Secretary/Panchayat Sahayak. PROCEDURE FOR GETTING A RATION CARD
(Details far available in PROCEDURES) For getting a ration card
application form will be filled in by the Head of the family and a surrender
certificate will be issued by the concerned authority where the family
resides before. To get the new ration card at new place, surrender
certificate must be attached with the ration card application form for
getting a new ration card. RATION CARDS FOR B.P.L/ANTODAYA For B.P.L. ration cards are issued to the families identified by the Rural Development and Urban Development Departments and issued by the concerned Food & Supplies Officer/Inspector (FCS&CA)/Panchayat Secretary/Panchayat Sahayak.
|
||
|
|
The role of fair price shops is very important for T.P.D.S. It
reflects the grounds operation and activities of the department. For the
distribution of T.P.D.S. food grains fair price shops are allocated by the
concerned District Controller, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer
Affairs/Deputy Commissioner on the recommendations of concerned
Panchayat/Zila Parishad. At the time of allotment of fair price shops
preference is given as
under:
1.
First Priority:
Public Institutions or public bodies such as Gram Panchayats, self help
groups, co-operatives, in licensing of fair price shops and management of
fair price shops by women or their collectives. 2.
Second
Priority: Ekal Nari (as defined by the Department of Women and Child
Development, Govt. of H.P), Widow(s) raising children on their own,
physically handicapped person (as defined in the Person with Disabilities
(Equal opportunities, protection of rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995)
capable of efficiently handling the FPS operations, Ex-Servicemen/unemployed
educated person with no family member in regular employment. 3. Third Priority: H.P.
Sate Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. There are 5,078 fair price
shops as on 31-03-2022. Out of these fair price shops, 3,282 are run by the
Cooperative Societies, 1,685 by Individuals, 19 by Panchayats,34 by Mahila
Mandals/Self Help Groups and 65 by H.P. State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd.
|
|
||
|
|||
|
The Quality Control
Section, from the outset of establishment of Department of Food Civil
Supplies & Consumers Affairs is playing paramount role to the quality assurance
of various food items distributed to beneficiaries under the TPDS and H.P. State Specially Subsidized
Schemes. The department ensures all probability regarding food safety
& food quality of food items with the collaboration of quality control
section/technical branch. To maintain the quality
assurance of food items, the samples of various commodities distributed to
beneficiaries under the TPDS and H.P. State Specially Subsidized Schemes are
drawn by the field staff of the department regularly on target basis fixed by
the department and are sent to departmental food testing laboratory for
analysis. All received samples of various food items analyzed in departmental
food testing laboratory on the basis of modern scientific methodology and
different chemical methods by skilled and experienced technical persons. The
quality control section/food testing laboratory is well equipped with
advanced and sophisticated instruments/ equipments as HPLC, UV Visible spectrophotometer, Polarimeter etc. and is in process
to seek NABL Accreditation. Presently, all food items as pulses, double
fortified salt, sugar, fortified
edible oil, fortified wheat atta, wheat, rice, tea product, dalia and
other allied products of wheat & rice are being analyzed in laboratory as
per the specification laid down under the provision of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006
(2011). After analysis of the
samples the results thereof are conveyed to concerned District Controllers of
department and H.P. State Civil
Supplies Corporation Ltd. along with the remarks ad guidelines for
initiating further action against the defaulters. The redressal of the
disputes arise between FCI, HPSCSC and other agency involved in transaction
of food products regarding the quality of foodgrains is also being taken care
of quality control staff of this department. The action against the
defaulters, violating the guidelines related to quality of food items
initiated under the provisions of H.P.
Specified Essential Commodities (Regulation of Distribution) Order, 2019
and terms & conditions of Memorandum
of Understanding signed by State Civil Supplies Corporation with source
agencies. In order to aware the consumers regarding the quality of food items and various aspects regarding fortified foods as wheat atta, edible oils, double fortified salt, quality control section has published the IEC posters and displayed in fair price shops. Also, to ensure the quality of foodgrains is being distributing to consumers in the state under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), department has started the toll free No. 1967. If consumers have any issue related to quality of food items, they can lodge their complaint by calling on this toll free number. |
|
||
|
|||
|
In order to check hoarding and profiteering and other mal-practices in the open market, the Department is vigorously enforcing various control orders/acts and exercising strict vigil on the track to ensure that no undue price rise takes place in the State. To ensure the availability of essential commodities at reasonable rates, the following actions were taken by the Department Officers/Officials as inspection targets detail given below: 1. Districts
Controller..............
.25 per month 3.
Inspector.
..................37 per month No. of
Inspections....................................................................................44,299 |