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The achievement made by the department through
the year are as follows;
1. Targeted Public Distribution System ( T.P.D.S. )
The identification of BPL families through the Gram - Shabas with
the involvement of Panchayati Raj Institution is under progress
where 60% of the work has been completed. The work is expected to
be completed by the end of March 2002. Once the BPL list is
completed, the list will be published and brought to the notice of
the public for objection and claims. The list when completed in
all respect, family ration cards will be issued to the public free
of cost. At present the benefit to the BPL families are being
provided on the adhoc list given by the Panchayats. The rate of
BPL rice is Rs.4 /- per kg where the State Government is bearing
the subsidy of Rs.2.15 / -per kg. The procurement and
distribution of APL rice is also been done which is sold @ Rs.9/-per kg.
2. APL Ration Cards :
The department have taken up the issue of individual
computerized ration cards to the public. The districts like Mangan
and South have been covered. All parts of the East District have
also been covered barring Gangtok and its surrounding areas, which
will be taken up shortly. The West District was taken up from
7th March'2002 where it was expected to be completed within a
month's time. The distribution of APL Cards wherever taken up has
been most successful. Full support is being received from the panchayats and the public in general. The department is charging
Rs.25/- per card where the card is valid for a period of 5(five)
years. Arrangements have also been made by the department for
taking photographs of those persons who are physically challenged
the sick in there own place of residence.
3. Antodaya Anna Yojana.
The scheme was launched in the month of 1.5.2001. Food grains at a
cost of Rs.3/- per kilogram is distributed to those beneficiaries
living below the poverty line. Each beneficiary is being given 25 kgs of rice. A total of 6700 families are being covered where 7
(seven) from each ward has been selected. The selection of the
beneficiaries belonging to the poorest of the poor category is
being taken up.
4. Annapurna Scheme:
Under the scheme 10 kgs of rice per beneficiary to the Senior
Citizens of 65(sixty- five) years and above is being done. The
food grains are being distributed at free of cost where they have
been issued with special ration cards. Under the scheme only those
who are eligible for National Old Age Pension (NOAP) but have not
been covered are been taken up. A total of 2411 Senior Citizens
are presently receiving this benefit. To ensure they are not
subjected to mal-practice, rice is distributed from the 24
departmental godowns spread-out throughout the State.
5. Fair Price Shop:
The department has successfully streamlined the functioning of the
fair price shops who play a major role in distribution of the
essential commodities to the public. The department now allows
only those fair price shops, MPCS and CCS to deal with all
essential commodities. These outlets have not been permitted to
sell similar items in order to avoid any diversion. . Further, the
department is allowing registration of FPS, MPCS, and CCS who are
financially sound. This is being done to ensure that the
distribution of PDS items is not disrupted and the public get
their monthly quota on time. To do this the department have
increased license fees and also obtaining security deposit of Rs.
5000/ -. All steps have been taken to ensure that Fair Price Shops
are set up within walking distance of the consumers.
6. Godown Construction:
The construction of Godown at Ravangla and Pakyong is almost
completed. The Ravangla Godown having capacity of 350 MTs is being
constructed at a cost of Rs. 39.21 lakhs. The Pakyong Godown is
taken up at a cost of Rs. 46.25 lakhs having a capacity of 350 MTs.
Apart from the above, the department is also taking-up the repairs
and renovation of Chungthang and Rongli Food godowns at a total
cost of Rs. 4 lakhs under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP).
7. Vehicles:
To ensure proper distribution of essential commodities, the
department is upgrading. Purchase of 6(six) vehicles at a cost of
Rs.30 lakhs. This is100% centrally sponsored scheme. Besides
purchasing the normal trucks, the department will also be
purchasing utility Vans which have easy access to far-flung areas
which would otherwise not be possible for heavy vehicles to ply.
Further these vehicles will be coming in to use in places where
road conditions do not permit bigger vehicles.
8. Buffer Stocks:
In all godowns, the department maintains buffer stocks of 9943.20
MTs at a cost Rs.106.50 lacs. The purchase was done from the open
market through the SIMFED. The buffer stocks are maintained to be
used in the event of any Natural Calamity. The monsoon this year
brought havoc to North Sikkim. Heavy rainfall disrupted the
movement of vehicles at Lanthey Khola thereby cutting-up of
Chungthang from the rest of the State. The department transhipped
food grains and averted any scarcity. The department normally
stores buffer stock before the monsoon season but the pre-monsoon
rains disrupted the road which took the department unaware.
However, no scarcity of food grains was felt which was only due to
the hard work put in by the department.
9. Revenue Receipts:
Against the target of Rs.2.50 lakhs the department realized Rs.
3.07 lakhs during the year 2001 -2002. This was realized from the
registration fee of fair price shops and on account of cost of
application forms, etc.
10. Weights & Measures Cell:
The Weights & Measures Cell of the Food and Civil Supplies and
consumer Affairs Department is solely responsible for effective
implementation of the various Acts and Rules. This Cell has the
responsibility to ensure that all packaged commodities confirm
with the rules and consumers are not cheated. Calibration of oil
tankers, POL pumps owned by the government organization as well as
private parties and carrying out the annual verification and
reverification of commercial weights and measures on realization
of specified fees are done by this Cell. Unlike the past the
department had fixed the target for booking cases against
violation of different provisions of the aforesaid Act, Rules and
Control Orders. District wise target of cases to be booked during
the year 2001 -2002 are given below: -
11. Consumer Protection Cell:
The Government of Sikkim has accorded top priority to promote
consumer welfare activities in the State. The Hon 'ble Justice of
the High Court of Sikkim has been appointed as the President of
the State Commission and the Registrars of the High Court of
Sikkim have been appointed as presidents of the District Forum in
the East, North, South and West Districts. Non- Judicial members
have also been appointed in the State Commission as well as in the
District Forums. In order to attract capable and efficient persons
to act as non-Judicial members to the State Commission and the
District Forum the state Government has raised honorarium.
Pursuant to the policy guidelines issued by the Government of
India, the Government of Sikkim has already created the Sikkim
State Consumer Welfare Fund Scheme, 2000. It is proposed to raise
about Rs. 5 lakhs from various sources initially for making this
scheme operational. The Central Government has awarded Rs. 2.50
lakhs as Central share where the State Government will provide a
matching amount. The purpose of setting up of this scheme is to
help promote more voluntary consumer organizations by rendering
financial assistance. The Department of Food and Civil Supplies
and Consumer Affairs has taken the following actions to give
momentum to the Consumer Movement in the State: -
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i. Issued numerous advertisements and materials carrying slogans
and messages of consumer protection both in English and Nepali
languages in various local papers and other publicity medias.
Radio information talks on AIR were also given from time to time
to disseminate information to the general public. |
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ii. Brought out a booklet entitled "CHETNA" to create awareness.
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iii. Produced VHS film entitled "ANDOLAN" a story based film in
rural background. As usual World Consumer Rights Day on 15th March
2001 was celebrated at Alley Ground, Namchi South Sikkim which was
attended, by a mammoth gathering. The objection of holding the
program was to educate the consumers of their rights and duties. |
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