Dayaldas Baghel, the Food Minister, conducted a meeting with senior officials at Mahanadi Bhawan to assess the functioning of the food department. The Minister addressed the government’s initiative to provide a lump-sum supply of rice for three months (June to August) to all ration cardholders. He noted that the distribution commenced on June 1st through the 13,965 government-run fair price shops. Baghel emphasized the need to accelerate the distribution process and ensure all beneficiaries receive their allotted rice. He also mandated immediate action upon receiving any complaints regarding irregularities in the distribution process. Furthermore, he examined the status of rice storage within the fair price shops.
The meeting also included a review of the stock verification procedures from the fiscal years 2022-23 to 2024-25. Officials reported that the recovery of food grains, which were found to be deficient after physical verification in September 2022, is progressing rapidly. It was highlighted that approximately 124 crore rupees worth of ration supplies were missing from 335 fair price shops, with 119 crore rupees recovered. Efforts are underway to recover the remaining 5 crore rupees. Additionally, FIRs were filed against 27 fair price shop operators. Baghel urged officials to expedite the remaining recovery efforts. The minister also inquired about the chickpea distribution and storage.
Minister Baghel also assessed the rice deposit status in the Central and State pools by millers during the Kharif marketing years 2023-24 and 2024-25. Officials mentioned that millers have been granted until June 30th to deposit the remaining 0.88 lakh metric tons of rice from the 2023-24 season. For the Kharif marketing year 2024-25, a total of 25.43 lakh metric tons of rice is to be deposited, of which 14.86 lakh metric tons have already been procured, representing 58.43 percent of the total. The process of depositing the remaining rice is underway. Minister Baghel directed that the June 30th deadline for depositing rice for the fiscal year 2023-24 should not be extended and emphasized the importance of expediting the deposit process. He also reviewed various aspects, including preparations for paddy procurement in the upcoming Kharif marketing year 2025-26, procurement arrangements at committees, the physical condition of paddy at collection centers, the disbursement of incentive payments to millers, and the current status of court cases.
Furthermore, Minister Baghel announced the commencement of recruitment procedures to fill vacant positions. He instructed officials to forward recruitment proposals to the PSC and Vyapam for positions already approved by the finance department. He also directed that the vacant positions of chairpersons and members at the consumer commissions at the state and district levels be filled in accordance with legal procedures. Baghel emphasized the timely resolution of pending cases at the commissions. He reviewed the progress of the Legal Metrology Department. Officials from the Weights and Measures Department stated that a revenue of 13.5 crore rupees was generated from the verification and stamping of weights and measures in 2024-25. Additionally, 2.21 lakh weighing and measuring instruments were verified. Baghel proposed simplifying the measurement process and reducing the time frame for issuing licenses.