Assam Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai has directed officials to complete the ongoing ration card verification exercise across the state by July 31 to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive benefits under the Anna Seva Abhiyan.
Chairing a state-level departmental review and interactive meeting in Guwahati on Wednesday, Rai instructed officials to use Aadhaar-based verification and e-KYC to identify beneficiaries who have not collected free rice for six months or more.
He said cases of beneficiaries who obtained ration cards but have not availed of free rice for at least six months must be examined carefully, adding that the verification drive would help identify ineligible beneficiaries and create opportunities for genuinely deserving families to receive ration cards and access benefits under the public distribution system.
The minister also set targets for issuing ration cards to people suffering from critical illnesses and other eligible categories, urging officials to carry out the exercise with commitment and efficiency.
During the meeting, Rai said Assam had become the first state in the country to implement the SMART Public Distribution System (SMART PDS). He credited the achievement to the coordinated efforts of departmental officials, employees and Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers, stating that the initiative had strengthened public confidence in the department.
Reviewing paddy procurement, the minister directed officials to constitute committees for every procurement centre by the first week of August. The committees will be headed by local MLAs, while the remaining members will be appointed in accordance with government guidelines. He stressed that the additional state incentive provided over and above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) must reach only genuine farmers.
Rai also instructed authorities to ensure that Fair Price Shop dealers receive their commissions by the 20th of every month and ordered a review of inactive fair price shops, with appropriate departmental action to be taken wherever necessary.
With the state preparing to resume the distribution of pulses and sugar from August, the minister asked officials to complete all necessary arrangements to ensure the programme is implemented smoothly.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to transparency in food security schemes, the public distribution system and paddy procurement, Rai urged officials to work collectively as “Team Assam” and complete all assigned tasks within the stipulated timelines.
