Agartala, July 14: Tripura Government has taken some important initiatives including opening of new FP Shops, introduction of Digital Ration Cards and home delivery of ration items for identified families to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Tripura Food Minister Manoj Kanti Deb made this announcement at a press conference in the Civil Secretariat, Agartala on Wednesday.
He said, "Aiming at full digitalization of the Public Distribution System, a plan has been taken to replace the existing ration cards with smart cards."
He said the process is already underway. All ration card holders would be given copies of the ration cards and for this purpose, he requested all the consumers to provide accurate information to their respective FP shops.
Briefing the media about the other decisions, Deb said, Tripura Government would open 408 new Fair Price shops by rearranging the existing ration shops, where the number of cards is comparatively high, based on locations.
"The lists of the projected ration shops have already been sent to the respective Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) for taking necessary steps. The initiative will open employment scopes for around 816 persons as well as ease the PDS service," the minister said.
The Food department is also contemplating a plan to ensure home delivery of ration items to around 39,000 identified families having one or two members aged above 60 years and members with physical disabilities.
He said the Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Cooperatives would be utilized for this purpose and a process to identify such families is already in progress across the state.
To benefit the farmers, procurement of paddy directly from the farmers at MSP of Rs. 18.68 per kg for this season started from June 8 last and it would continue till July 20 next, he said.
“A target has been set to purchase 20,000 MT paddy at MSP this season. The government has already purchased 12,278 MT paddy from 7,126 farmers at Rs. 22.93 crore,” Deb told the media.
According to Deb, the task forces formed combining the Food department, Legal Metrology and Sub-Divisional administration are continuously monitoring the price in markets and taking action against the dishonest businessmen.
As part of the Corona relief package announced by the Centre, as many as 5.79 lakh families of Tripura received free rice (5 kg per head) for 8 months. Such families have also been provided Masoor Dal or Chana (1 kg each). Under this scheme, the Centre has given subsidy of Rs. 379 crore for Tripura alone, he said, adding that the central government had supplied 95,025 MT rice and 4,416 MT Dal and Chana to the state.
Secretary of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs department- Saradindu Chowdhury and Director Tapan Kumar Das also attended the press conference.
Meanwhile, Deb said, the state government decided to purchase Masoor Dal from the open market through e-tendering and supply them to around 5.96 lakh families enrolled under the Food Security Act at a subsidized price of Rs. 25 per kg.
“The selection of suppliers through e-tendering has already been completed. It is expected that the Masoor Dal will be available in all ration shops by August 2021,” the Food Minister said, adding that the distribution of Masoor Dal under this scheme remained stopped for the past few months following expiry of the validity of the scheme.