Patna, July 9 (). Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, while emphasizing on making the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the state more transparent, technology-based and effective, directed the officials to quickly complete the target of making one crore new ration cards. He said that it is the top priority of the government to deliver the benefits of the schemes to all the eligible beneficiaries in a timely and respectable manner.
The Chief Minister conducted a detailed review of departmental schemes and public distribution system with Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi at Lok Sevak Awas on Thursday. In the meeting, strengthening of food security system, effective implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and modernization of food grain storage system were discussed in detail. In the review meeting, Ravi Shankar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India and Deepak Anand, Secretary, Food and Consumer Protection Department, Government of Bihar, gave a presentation on the updated status of departmental schemes.
CM Samrat Chaudhary directed the officials to prepare a comprehensive and updated database of the beneficiaries of all the schemes of the department, so that the benefits of the schemes can reach the eligible people with complete transparency. He said that the performance of Bihar’s online public distribution system is commendable and continuous efforts should be made to further strengthen it. Various aspects of developing smart warehousing, various modules of ‘Sarthak PDS’ model, technical infrastructure and cost sharing were also discussed in the meeting.
The Chief Minister said that regular and effective monitoring of the ration distribution system should be ensured, so that no eligible beneficiary faces difficulty in getting food grains. Instructing the officials to pay special attention to the quality, safety and maintenance of all the food grains warehouses in the state, he said that uninterrupted power supply and necessary basic facilities should be provided in all the warehouses, so that safe storage of food grains can be ensured.
He also said that as per the suggestions received from the Central Government, the department should rapidly complete the set targets with better coordination. The Chief Minister said that it is the priority of the state government to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolution of ‘Poor Welfare with Dignity’ with full commitment.
He also expressed his gratitude to Union Minister Prahlad Joshi for coming to Bihar to review the schemes and assuring all possible cooperation for the development of the state. Food and Consumer Protection Minister Ashok Choudhary, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Secretaries to the Chief Minister Lokesh Kumar Singh and Sanjay Kumar Singh and many senior officials of the Central and State Government were present in the meeting.
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MNP/DKP