Govt to include pulses in PDS: Zulfkar

Efforts afoot to make Fair Price Shops Multi Utility Centres

JAMMU, DECEMBER 26: In its endeavor to ensure food security and nutrition security as well, the Government is going to include pulses in the Public Distribution System, stated Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, during an officer’s meeting held here today.

The Minister also issued instructions to the concerned to conduct a survey about requirement of onion in the state so that a comprehensive plan is prepared to cater to consumer’s requirement on this account.

The Minister, while discussing modalities for inclusion of pulses in the PDS, said that the government is working on a well-knit plan to procure pulses in the PDS of the state. He directed Directors, FCS & CA Jammu and Kashmir to take up the matter with the Central Department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution and submit detailed report in this regard. “It is a firm commitment of present dispensation to make Fair Price Shops as Multi Utility Centres by adding other items other than rice, wheat and sugar”, he asserted.

The Minister also directed both the Directors to conduct market survey and submit the report of requirement of onion in the state. He added that government is planning to monitor supply of onion in the state so that consumers should not face any problem. He added that keeping in view expected 30% low crop productivity during Kharief season 2017-18 and in order to stabilize prices of onion, there is need to keep check on the supply and prices of this commodity in the state.

Commissioner Secretary FCS & CA Mehrajud Din Khan, Director FCS & CA Jammu Rashid AzamInqlabi, Director FCS & CA Kashmir Nissar Wani and other senior officers were present in the meeting.  

         Later, the Minister chaired a separate meeting to review tourism infrastructure development works in Rajouri district in general and Darhal Constituency in particular.

The meeting had detailed deliberation on the decisions taken during the 6^th Board meeting of Rajouri Development Authority held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister on July 9, 017.

          The Minister instructed officers of Rajouri Development Authority to focus on the development of Budkhanari as base camp for the tourists visiting Shakermarg. He directed Deputy Commissioner Rajouri to review the land issues and settle the same at an earliest

The Minister asked the RDA to construct TRC at Budkhanari, Track to Shakermarg and other facilities for the tourists at Budkhanari on priority basis.  He also directed to prepare the re-casted project of Tribal Cultural Centre at Rajouri by the end of this year.  

Regarding CM’s commitments, Minister issued instructions to the Tourism Department for submission of a separate case of commitments of Chief Minister regarding release of funds to the RDA. He also directed Deputy Commissioner, to review the works being executed by Tourism Department and RDA in the district.

The Minister also reviewed the progress of Tribal Model Villages in the District and directed the concerned officers to ensure that the holistic development of the identified areas be ensured besides the benefits must reach to the targeted population.

Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary, Director Planning, Development & Monitoring, S. Bilal Ahmed, Special Secretary, Forest Department, Joint Director Planning, Department of Tourism, Chief Executive Officer, Rajouri Development Authority and Joint Director, Tourism, Jammu were present in the meeting.