Amritsar, June 20 The Chief Minister has constituted an advisory group to review the food security schemes, including the distribution and implementation of schemes under smart ration card. The advisory group will be responsible to provide mobility to the government’s food safety plans, suggest modifications to create smoothly running schemes and to create effective food distribution system to achieve more transparency in the process. Speaking about the decision, Amritsar South MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria said the high-level advisory group had been constituted to improve the process of evaluation of smart ration card beneficiaries. Bolaria informed that the advisory group included Minister of Rural Development Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Social Security Minister Aruna Chaudhary, seven MLAs, officials from the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Social Security Department and Finance Department, Chief Minister’s Special Chief Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Chief Minister’s political secretary, Capt Sandeep Sandhu, who has been specially called for the job. He said that to reach out to maximum beneficiaries, the advisory group unanimously agreed to bring youth hostels, elderly and orphans homes under subsidised ration scheme. Agreement was also made to distribute pulses at discounted rates to smart ration card holders in the next food distribution process. As per recommendations of the advisory group in rural areas, patwari or block development officer and the district food and supplies controller, or his representative, inspector of municipalities in the urban areas, superintendent-level officer and a representative of the concerned deputy commissioner in the areas falling under cantonment, can investigate forms of beneficiaries. ‘Simple procedure would make the scheme more transparent and facilitate its effective implementation,” said Bolaria. It was also proposed that 10% of the beneficiaries under the sub-divisional magistrate and five per cent under the deputy commisionerate will be subjected to surprise inspections to maintain transparency. Food safety groups suggested to open the depot at easily accessible distance for beneficiaries.

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