Punjab directs officials to maximize field visits to ensure food security
The Community News/Chandigarh
The Punjab government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday directed ADVs to maximize field visits to ensure food security and better implementation of National Food Security Act 2013.
Informing about this, Punjab State Food Commission chairman D P Reddy said the government is undertaking every measure to ensure food security to people of the State in accordance with the NFSA 2013.
In pursuance of the same, Reddy emphasised upon the ADCs (Development) cum District Grievances Redressal Officers (DGROs) to undertake field visits at the regular intervals to get first hand knowledge of its implementation on ground.
He reviewed the status of distribution of wheat under NFSA, 2013 free of cost at the Fair Price Shops (FPS), Mid Day Meals and the Anganwadis.
He categorically emphasised that the grievances of the people concerning the abovesaid issues must be redressed on priority keeping in view instructions of the commission issued from time to time.
“Verbal orders must be passed regarding the complaints received and pendency along with the status of mid day meals and anganwadis must be sent to the commission by 7th of every month.
Besides, the contact details of the beneficiaries of the FPS, Anganwadi’s, Mid day Meals must be furnished to the commission in a fortnight so as to enable the commission to directly contact them to check regarding the delivery of benefits and their satisfaction thereof, he added.
He termed the ADCs as the footsoldiers of the commission for the proper implementation of the above schemes and said adherence to the provisions of the NFSA for ensuring food security is nation building and is an investment in future generations.
Exhorting the ADCs to ensure health check up of the Mid Day Meal workers atleast once in every 6 months, the Chairman directed that hygenic conditions are a pre-requisite for the preparation of food as is ensuring the supply of pure water.
Coming to the creation of awareness, the Chairman implored the ADCs to ensure maximum publicity for the steps initiated by the commission by installing banners, posters apart from screening the promotional film regarding the activities covered under NFSA Schemes at Schools, Panchayat Ghars’, DC offices.
The Local cable TV operators should be roped in to screen the film, added Reddy.
Among others present on the occasion included the Members of the commission viz. Ms. Preety Chawla, Ms. Indra Gupta, Mr. Vijay Dutt and Mr.Chetan Parkash
