Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
A seminar focusing on reforms, transparency, technology and portability in the Public Distribution System (PDS) was organised at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) in Sector 26, Chandigarh.
Punjab State Food Commission (PSFC) Chairman Bal Mukand Sharma stressed the importance of obtaining feedback from the grassroots level to assess the functioning of the PDS comprehensively. He said necessary action should be taken on the feedback received to bring further improvements to the system.
Additional Director of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Dr Anjuman Bhaskar, briefed participants about the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. She also explained the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) schemes. Under PHH, beneficiaries are entitled to 5 kg of wheat per person per month, while AAY families receive 35 kg of wheat per month.
PSFC members Chetan Prakash Dhaliwal and Vijay Dutt shared their experiences from field visits, while PSFC member Jasvir Singh Sekhon highlighted the social impact of the PDS on the general public.
J.S. Bedi from IDC Chandigarh and Dr Satish Verma from Amritsar appreciated the digitalisation initiatives in the PDS. They also emphasised the need for multi-departmental coordination to ensure seamless distribution and effective monitoring of activities at the grassroots level.
During the seminar, appreciation certificates were also presented to depot holders for their commendable performance.
