Bhopal, March 26, (Yasha Sharma) Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Shri Akhand Pratap Singh Yadav has written letters to MLAs, Sarpanchas and secretaries of Gram Panchayats inviting their suggestions for improvement in public distribution system. Shri Singh has said that this initiative has been taken with a view to strengthening the present public distribution system further.
The letter says that the state government is committed towards providing food grains and kerosene to beneficiaries under public distribution system. It is the duty of all of us to see that there is no black marketing of food grains/kerosene meant for poor people. It has been decided to assign the work of public distribution system to Gram Panchayats in the areas where it is not being conducted properly. Sarpanchas/Secretaries of Gram Panchayats have been intimated about decision of the government. If need for improvement and change is felt then it might be contemplated to replace Gram Panchayats with other efficient organisations for PDS work.
Shri Akhand Pratap Singh Yadav has also sought suggestions from Sarpanchas and Panchayat Secretaries about this new arrangement. He has said that under the new system a revolutionary step has been taken to withdraw the public distribution system work from cooperative societies in the areas where irregularities are being committed and hand over the responsibility to Gram Panchayats. The state government is dedicated to its goal of ensuring that poor people get their share of ration. The letter to MLAs, Sarpanchas and Gram Panchayat secretaries is accompanied by the copies of the directive to hand over fare price shops to Gram Panchayats wherever required.