| PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM |
12.1.0
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The
Public Distribution System (PDS) is a major instrument of the Government’s
poverty eradication programme which is regulated under the “Assam
Public Distribution of Articles Order, 1982” and the entire
System is covered by the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The main
responsibility of the State Food and Civil Supplies Department is
to maintain overall stability of general price level and to ensure
adequate supply of essential commodities in the State. At present,
the Department has been implementing some welfare schemes sponsored
by the Government of India such as schemes for Below Poverty line
(BPL), Above Poverty Line (APL), Antyodaya Anna Yojana as well as
Randhan Jyoti through its well equipped Public Distribution Network
stretching all over the State. The functioning of the Schemes are
narrated below. |
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I. Below Poverty line (BPL) |
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Under
the Below Poverty Line Scheme, the State Government has been giving
Rice @ 35 Kgs to each of the 16,11,210 families selected all over
the State which are identified living Below Poverty Line. In addition
to Rice these BPL families are also provided with Wheat and Wheat
product, S. K. Oil, Sugar, Salt (Zonal) etc. through Public Distribution
System at subsidies prices. |
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II. Above Poverty Line (APL) |
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Above
Poverty Line (APL) Scheme normally covers the middle class people
of the society. There are about 35 lakh families living Above Poverty
Line (APL) with a population of 175.44 lakh in the State. These families
have been providing APL Rice, Wheat and Wheat product, levy Sugar,
S. K. Oil and Salt in every month at Government fixed price through
Family Identity Cards (FIC). |
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III. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) |
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As
per guidelines of the Government of India, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana
has been implemented since November, 2001 in the State. Under this
scheme, the State Government has been providing Rice @ 35 Kilogram
per family per month at a price of Rs.3.00 per Kilogram to each of
the families numbering 2,81, 406 selected by the Government of Assam.
In addition to Rice, the families also get Wheat and Wheat product,
Levy Sugar, S. K. Oil, Salt (Zonal) etc. |
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IV. Randhan Jyoti |
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Under
this scheme one lakh LPG single bottle connections will be released
to a widow or a family member of each of the one lakh selected BPL
families in both rural and urban areas of the State at free of connecting
charges. The district-wise targets for the numbers of beneficiaries
has been calculated @ 5.25 percent of the total selected BPL families.
This scheme was formally launched on the 15th August, 2003 all over
the State. |
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12.2.0
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Public
Distribution System with a network of about 33 (thirty three) thousand
Fair Price Shops (FPS) is perhaps the largest distribution network
of its type throughout the State. During 2002-2003, there are 33,229
Nos. of Fair Price Shops in Assam comprising 29,322 Nos. in rural
areas and 3,907 Nos. in urban areas and the number of population covered
per Fair Price Shop is around 803 for the aforesaid period. |
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The
present monthly requirement and allocation of commodities for Public
Distribution System Schemes for the State is shown in the
table 12.1. |
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| CONSUMER PROTECTION AFFAIRS: |
12.3.0.
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The
most important responsibility entrusted with the Food and Civil Supplies
Department of the Government of Assam is to protect the consumer’s
interest in the State. As per provisions of the Consumers Protection
Act, 1986, the Food and Civil supplies Department being the Administrative
Department has already set up one State Commission with Headquarters
at Guwahati and twenty-three numbers of District Forum (Permanent/Temporary
basis) in different Districts to dispose off the cases and complaints
lodged before the Commission/Forum as per provision of the aforesaid
Act. The Aggrieved persons are benefited by the directions of the
Commission and District Forum, since its inception, 10714 numbers
of cases have been filed before the Commission / Forum out of which
8869 numbers of cases have been disposed off leaving a balance of
1845 numbers cases. |
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As
a part of its Consumer’s Protection Policy the State Government
has taken some important decisions such as (i) to institute a State
Level Award for State Organization which has outstanding contribution
towards consumer’s movement activities. The award is named after
Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan and carries a cash component and a citation,
(ii) to include consumer awareness in the School Curriculum, (iii)
to notify the Directorate of Food and Civil Supplies as State Nodel
Centre of Consumer Affaires, and (iv) to form District Information
Centre. |
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It
is encouraging to observe that a large number of cases have been filed
under “The Essential Commodities Act, 1955”, “Prevention
of Black Marketing” and “Maintenance of Supplies of Essential
Commodities Act, 1980.” As per information made available by
the Department, a total of 813 numbers of raid have been conducted
upto the end of the month of October, 2003 leading to conviction of
17 numbers of persons and realization of a huge amount of money as
penalty etc. |
