Food panel chief inspects ration depots

Punjab State Food Commission Chairman Bal Mukand Sharma conducted surprise inspections at government ration depots in the district. The purpose was to check ration distribution by the depots.

Sharma checked the depots on the Barewal road and in other areas of the city.

He also interacted with beneficiaries, who had come to collect their ration and provided them with information about their rights. Officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department were also present during the inspection.

Sharma said the government was distributing wheat under a three-month plan from January to March.

According to official data, around 87 per cent of wheat has already been distributed in the district. “Additionally, the introduction of biometric machines and electronic weighing machines in all government ration depots has enhanced transparency in the distribution process, providing relief to the public,” he said.

The Chairman said surprise visits were being done regularly and if any negligence was found in welfare schemes, the commission would take strict action against the guilty.

Earlier, Sharma also held a meeting with officials and reviewed the progress of various schemes and programmes, including the School Health Programme, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), fair price shops, Integrated Child Development Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, National Food Security Act, Mid-Day Meal and food/water samplings by health teams in the district.

He emphasised the need for regular testing of mid-day meals and asked the officials concerned to maintain a food testing register in schools, provide quality food to children and maintain cleanliness while preparing the meals. “The drinking water quality in schools must also be ensured. RO systems must be provided to schools which don’t have the facility. He also directed that health check-ups of students and mid-day meal workers in schools be conducted every six months,” he directed the officials concerned.

DDPO Navdeep Kaur, DFSC Sartaj Singh Cheema, DPO Gulbahar Singh Toor and Assistant Civil Surgeon Vivek Kataria were among others present on the occasion.