Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Fair price shops not audited: PAC

Fair price shops not audited: PAC

Share this article Share this article
published Published on May 28, 2014   modified Modified on May 28, 2014
-The Times of India
 

BANGALORE: A mere 7% of users are aware of some monitoring systems while only 4% know about the toll-free number. That's the state of affairs of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Karnataka according to the Citizen Report Card of the Public Affairs Centre.

Releasing the report which is based on feedback and effectiveness of existing monitoring systems, PAC director R Suresh said over 38% of the vigilance committee members interviewed were not even aware they were members.

"There are systems to monitor PDS, but they are not used. The vigilance committee has to be active. There is lack of awareness even among the vigilance committee members as they do not know their rights and responsibilities. Millions go to bed hungry in India and our PDS is still not reaching them," said Suresh.

The report surveyed 5,565 customers, 795 vigilance committee members, 30 food inspectors and 159 PDS shop owners in 2012-13.

Inspectors' woes

The survey shows that 70% of food inspectors said they visited the shops at least once a month, but were constrained because there were too many shops to check. For 17% of inspectors, the hurdle was distance between shops; 20% complained about non-availability of transportation and 17% said the visits came in the way of completing office work.

Private players to be kept away

Food and civil supplies minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the report will help the department fix the loopholes. "From now on, the department will not issue licences to private agencies or individuals to manage fair price shops. We have 20,845 shops and of these 11,664 are run by private players. Those agencies will be continued, but no private player will be encouraged to take up licence for 1,200 new shops. In many cases, the shops being managed by the same families, from one generation to the next, as an asset. We must curb those who have vested interests," he said.

The department is looking at the participation of primary agricultural co-operative societies to be part of the PDS through the shops. The minister added that the department will start conducting Ahaar Aadalats to help citizens with complainst about PDS.


The Times of India, 28 May, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Fair-price-shops-not-audited-PAC/articleshow/35644858.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close