Food Secretary dismisses allegations of scam in PDS sugar supply

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 15 Oct: Food and Civil Supplies Department Secretary, Jemima Pradhan, today dismissed allegations of a scam in the supply of sugar under the PDS published in some local media on 13 October.
Addressing a press conference today, Ms Pradhan reiterated that the allegations against the department were false and baseless.
“In fact the department, in its effort to bring good quality sugar of fresh stock, sought permission from Government of India to directly lift levy sugar from the mill and transport it to the state by road. Accordingly, Government of India agreed to our request and changed the status from FCI operated state to direct allotee state w.e.f. March 2006”, informed the Secretary.
She explained the pricing structure wherein it was mentioned that the state has to bear the cost of transportation and allied expenses of around Rs 526 per quintal [out of the total wholesale price of Rs. 2,565 per quintal] to bring sugar from the mills to the 27 state godowns.
The allegation that the Department is probably lifting lesser than the allocated quota of sugar which is 3910 qtls per month for the state and black marketing the balance is totally false, said Ms Pradhan. The monthly allocation of sugar for the state of Sikkim is 3910 qtls based on the number of Ration card holders in the state is being fully lifted every month and distributed in the state, it was further clarified. The Government is making all efforts to ensure that all the PDS items are made available to the consumer on time, she further assured.
“We have vigilance committees at the village level also but till date we have not received a single complaint regarding sugar supply. They have also provided details of sugar prices in Sikkim which is Rs 26 per kg”, the Secretary added.
The media reports being challenged by the Secretary were based on a report featured in some national dailies on the Union Cabinet was mulling over a proposal to raise price of levy sugar from Rs 13.50 a kg, fixed since 2002, to Rs 24-26 a kg but a decision has been deferred more than once. To cut the subsidy under PDS for sugar to the states, the central government had asked states to raise the price of sugar for the PDS without waiting for its own decision. Only Sikkim has done so while some other states have just stopped lifting sugar for the PDS.
Earlier, there was not much difference between the market price and levy sugar meant for the PDS but the difference has been rising over recent years. Since the states are reimbursed to the extent of Rs 13.50 per kg and the market price was around it, supply was not a problem for the PDS. The situation has since reversed and the lifting of sugar under the PDS from mills has come down to 60-70 per cent of the stock as against 90-95 per cent earlier, Ministry officials were quoted as saying. Subsidy is given to states against receipts of distribution of sugar under PDS at the levy price of Rs 13.50 per kg only. For instance, the Bihar and Chhattisgarh governments have almost stopped lifting sugar from mills for the PDS.

Department clarifies LPG distribution and connection confusions

GANGTOK, 09 Oct: Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, convened a meeting with representatives from all the LPG gas distributors in the State today to sort out the confusion among consumers regarding the decision of the Central Government to cap supply of subsidized domestic cylinders in a year which came into effect from 14 September last month.
As per a release issued by the department, it was clarified during the meeting that for the period 14 September 2012 to 31 March 2013, only 3 cylinders at subsidized rate shall be issued to each domestic consumer, irrespective of the number of cylinders consumed till 13 September, 2012.
Any extra domestic cylinder at non-subsidized rate will be issued only after the consumption of the third cylinder of subsidized rate. The LPG Control Order issued under the Essential Commodities Act 1955 allows only one LPG cooking gas connection in one household.
All consumers having more than one connection have been requested to surrender the extra connection (regulator and empty cylinder) to the respective dealers and get their security deposits refunded, the release mentions. Multiple connections are being automatically blocked by (Indane) Indian Oil Corporation Private Limited.
KYC [know your customer] form is available on line and can be downloaded from www.indane.co.in. Consumers may fill up online or at the office of the distributor by paying Rs. 4 per form. Booking for new connection is open and those interested may contact their area distributor.
Except for the price of subsidized domestic LPG cylinder, the price of other cylinders is likely to change every month subject to change in international price of LPG, the release adds.
For suggestions, complaints, queries or feedbacks pertaining to LPG, you can call on toll free number             1800-2333-555 or www.iocl.com.

UID number required for Ration Cards

GANGTOK, 18 Sept [IPR]: The Food and Civil supplies department has started the preparation of Ration Cards. Through an official release, the department has requested all residents to quote their Aadhaar or UID Number in the ration card application form.
Those persons who have enrolled in the UID programme but have failed to get their UID number are requested to fill their enrolment Identification number which is mentioned in the enrolment acknowledgment slip given to them during the enrolment. Persons who have not enrolled for UID number can contact the respective district offices of DESM&E for enrolment.
The release mentions that the department is expediting the enrolment process and the second phase of UID enrolment is likely to start in the first week of October 2012.  For the benefit of the residents, the department will be establishing UID enrolment centers in Mangan, Gangtok, Namchi and Gyalshing.
The residents who have enrolled for UID number can also check their respective numbers by logging into UID portal- www.uidai.gov.in

6,000 quintals of essential commodities procured to stock up against monsoon vagaries

AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK, 11 June: The State Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department [FCS&CAD], as part of monsoon preparedness, has procured a total of 6,000 quintals of essential commodities like Rice and Flour in the state. Apart from this the department has also identified vulnerable areas across the State following which the maintenance of the buffer stocks there has been initiated.
Speaking to NOW! today, Additional Secretary [FCS&CAD] KK Kafley informed that the department has identified the areas prone to blockage during monsoon like the whole of North District, in East- Pakyong, Rongli which are also termed as vulnerable areas, West District- Dentam, Tashiding, Sombaria, Soreng and in South District areas like Ravangla to cater to the supply of food grains to Sada, Phamtam and Yangang and assessing the requirement, the food grains have been procured and maintenance of the stock is under process.
Normally the food grains procured by the state under all schemes operational in the state is about 37,163.90 quintals per month but to cater to the needs of the general masses in the far-flung areas of the state the buffer stock has been procured. The food grains procured for the monsoon is to mitigate the requirement during emergency, meanwhile the regular supply of grains will continue as usual.
The food grains procured by the state normally are; under BPL category the total amount of food grains distributed in the state is 9,420 quintals, APL [two categories] is 19,200 quintals, MMAAY is 5,780 quintals, Annapurna scheme [scheme for old people of 10 kgs rice per month] its 250 quintals and under welfare scheme its 113.90 quintals, respectively.
With respect to Kerosene supply or buffer stock for monsoon, the Additional Secretary mentioned that the total kiloliters [KL] of kerosene procured by the state per month totals to about 528 KL, which is about 5 lakhs 28 thousand liters. The supply of kerosene has been reduced by about 24,000 liters compared to earlier years by the central government. Whereas with regard to maintenance of buffer stock he iterated that there is no additional supply of kerosene to the state, while transport and storage is an even greater challenge.
The Additional Secretary with respect to Liquefied Petroleum Gas [LPG] buffer stock for the monsoon said that the Department of Food and Civil Supplies being the nodal department has placed the requirement with the Indian Oil Corporation [IOC] and has also had series of meetings on the requests placed. The LPG issue falls directly in the purview of the IOC inclusive of their norms and guidelines but the department on its part has also proposed for distributor-ship to be started in every constituency considering easy supply of the same soon.
Following the buffer stock of LPG during monsoon the department is also convening a meet on 15 June with all the distributors and based on the meet held the proposal would be sent to IOC for supply, he added.

Petrol to cost Rs 73.20 per litre in Sikkim

AS NEWS OF HIKE SPREAD LOCALS LINED UP AT PETROL PUMPS TILL LATE LAST NIGHT TO REFUEL IN OLD RATES
GANGTOK, 24 May: With the announcement of a nation-wide hike in petrol prices by the central government on 23 May, petrol prices in the state have gone up by Rs 7.30 for normal petrol and Rs 7.40 for high speed petrol.
The Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department under the provision of ‘Price Display and Control of Supplies and Distribution, order 1977 revised petrol prices in the state from 24 May, 12:30 onwards. The new prices fixed are Rs. 73.20 per liter in case of normal petrol and Rs. 76.50 per liter for Xtra Premium. Prior to the revised rates, petrol prices in the state were Rs. 65.90 per liter for normal petrol and Rs. 69.10 per liter for Xtra Premium.
The notification issued by the concerned department regarding the revised rates of petrol is to be applicable throughout the state of Sikkim and any person or dealer found contravening the order issued is informed to be prosecuted under the provisions of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Black marketing of supplies of essential commodities Act, 1980 as well.
Speaking to NOW!, In-charge SNOD petrol pump Deorali, Shanker Sahani, informs that as news of the hike in petrol prices spread, owners and drivers in the capital lined up at the pump to refill their vehicles till late last night. The total petrol sold from SNOD on 23 May went up to 9,000 to 10,000 liters, far higher than normal, he informed.
He mentioned that normally the pump sells about 3,000 to 3,500 liters of petrol per day. Post the hike, taxis and private vehicles are now refilling in smaller amounts, he added.
The hike, the third in one year, came a day after the end of the Budget session of Parliament and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaking of the need to take “difficult decisions” on the third anniversary of UPA-II. This is the first upward revision in petrol price since November 4, 2011. The highest increase so far has been by Rs 5 per litre.
This marks an increase of around 10% and puts a squeeze of roughly Rs 6,000 a year on a family that spends an average of Rs 5,000 per month on petrol.
The Centre had freed petrol price in June 2010 when crude came down to around $40 a barrel from a historic high of $147 per barrel in July 2008. But in practice, oil companies do not move without a signal from the parent oil ministry which officially continues to deny any control. Media reports have quoted sources insisting that the increase was stage-managed. Oil companies usually review prices on the 15th and last day of each month. But Wednesday’s increase was announced mid-week to take advantage of oil minister S Jaipal Reddy’s absence after the Parliament session. Reddy reportedly gave his go-ahead for raising petrol price before leaving for Turkmenistan. His absence gave an opportunity for the government to distance itself from the raise and reinforce the impression that it did not control its price as it was a deregulated fuel.

National Consumer Day observed at Aho Kishan

GANGTOK, 21 Dec [IPR]: The National Consumer Day 2011 was observed on 20 December at Aho Kishan Junior High School playground in East Sikkim. The programme was attended by the Minister for Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, DB Thapa, as chief guest and MLA Namcheybong constituency, BB Rai, Gangtok Mayor KN Topgay and Zilla Adhakshya (East) Bimal Dawari as special guests.

Training on storage and preservation of foodgrains gets underway

GANGTOK, 24 Nov [IPR]: A two-day training programme on ‘Storage and Preservation of Food Grains’ jointly organized by Central Warehousing Corporation, Government of India and Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, got underway here today, at the conference hall of SIRD Complex, Karfectar.

Additional 15 kgs of rice for BPL families

GANGTOK, 23 Nov: The Food & Civil Supplies Department has implemented a scheme under which BPL families with more than six members will get an additional 15 kgs of rice on their ration card every month.

Update: Supply of essential commodities to earthquake affected areas

GANGTOK, 19 Oct: Since the earthquake, the Food and Civil Supplies Department has provided 1549.62 quintals of rice, 154.97 quintals of dal, 21.5 quintals of atta, 22.91 quintals of salt, 53.01 quintals of mustard oil and 2040 quintals of SK Oil to the North District.

Essential supplies to affected areas

GANGTOK, 13 Oct: The Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department since 21 Sept has supplied 2,164.41 quintals of Rice, 69.41 quintals of Dal, 26.9 quintals of Atta, 14.49 quintals of salt, 3,411 litres of Mustard Oil and 2,355 ltrs of SK Oil to the North District and to other relief camps set up in the other districts, informs a press release.
53 sorties from Mangan and 45 sorties from Libing Helipad by Defence and Pawan Hans helicopters were used to send these essential commodities, the release adds.

Food & Civil Supplies Deptt replenishes stocks for affected areas

GANGTOK, 01 Oct: Food & Civil Supplies Department despatched 1,260 kg of rice, 400 kg of dal, 90 kg of mustard oil and 200 kg of flour to Lachen and Thangu on 30 September and 01 October.
A Food & Civil Supplies press release issued today informs that since essential commodities were being despatched to Chungthang by road [through a hydel tunnel at Shipgyer], the department has started airlifting food items directly to Lachen and Lachung from Gangtok with the help of the army helicopters since yesterday.
It further informed that there are sufficient essential commodities in east, west and south Sikkim.

Adequate stocks in reserve, Food & Civil Supplies Deptt assures

FRESH CONSIGNMENTS FLOWN TO AFFECTED AREAS OF NORTH SIKKIM
GANGTOK, 28 Sept: The Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has, between 21 to 28 September, supplied foodgrains to the tune of 44.36 tons to different relief camps set up by the respective District administrations from different food godowns, informs a press release issued by the Department’s Secretary.

Food & Civil Supplies releases details of relief despatched to North Sikkim

GANGTOK, 26 Sept: A total of 16 sorties undertaken by the Indian Army and Air Force helicopters between 21 to 25 Sept, air-lifted and distributed ration sent by the Food and Civil Supplies Department, informs a press release issued by the Department.
The ration included, 7,160 kgs of rice, 830 kgs atta, 1,100 kgs dal, 250 kgs salt, and 315 litres of mustard oil were dispatched for Chungthang. 25,180 kgs of rice, 580 kgs atta, 520 kgs dal and 130 litres mustard oil was sent to Mangan. 2,300 kgs rice, 25 kgs salt, 25 kgs dal and 45 litres of mustard oil was sent for Lachen while 2,350 kgs of rice, 25 kgs salt, 200 kgs dal, and 60 litres mustard oil were dispatched for Lachung.

Officials trained on TDPS entitlement and grievances redressal systems

GANGTOK, 07 July: The Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, DB Thapa, has stressed that the department has an important responsibility towards serving the people by ensuring that all benefits, in right time and quantity, reached the beneficiaries. He urged all the officials and field staff of the department to support and ensure provide quality service to the people as directed by the Chief Minister.
He was speaking at the inaugural function of an awareness programme on Entitlement and Grievances Redressal Mechanism under ‘Targeted Public Distribution System’ [TPDS] for functionaries, PRIs, fair price shop owners and beneficiaries today at Janta Bhawan.