Pioneer News Service
Dumka
Secretary of the Food, Public Distribution, and Consumer Affairs Department, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, spearheaded a comprehensive performance review of departmental welfare schemes across Dumka district during a high-level meeting held at the Jarmundi Block Auditorium on Sunday.
Taking a firm stand against public distribution leakages, the Secretary issued explicit instructions to district authorities to identify and immediately cancel ration cards held by ineligible individuals to ensure targeted benefits reach genuine beneficiaries.
The meeting featured an in-depth evaluation of the foodgrain distribution under both the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Jharkhand State Food Security Scheme for the current month of July. Additionally, the Secretary audited the operational rollout and ground-level coverage of flagship programs, including the Chief Minister Chana Dal Scheme and the Dhoti-Saree Scheme.
Issuing stern directives, Secretary Sharma instructed officials to execute a rigorous verification drive cross-referencing cardholder lists against central database parameters provided by the Government of India. He mandated that any cardholders failing statutory eligibility norms must have their cards revoked in accordance with established rules, thereby unburdening the welfare system and prioritizing underprivileged households.
Highlighting specific grounds for disqualification, the Secretary ordered supply officers to prioritize identifying beneficiaries who are active income tax payees or commercial traders registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. Cardholders operating under these tax brackets while claiming subsidized rations were categorized as clear violations of eligibility criteria.
During the proceedings, Dumka Deputy Commissioner Abhijit Sinha presented a detailed breakdown of block-wise targets, distribution metrics, and administrative steps undertaken across the district. In his concluding remarks, Secretary Sharma called for total compliance with departmental mandates, directing all Block Supply Officers to ensure efficient delivery systems and achieve complete coverage for every eligible citizen.
The review session was attended by Deputy Commissioner Abhijit Sinha, District Supply Officer Ravi Shankar, along with Block Supply Officers representing all blocks of Dumka district.
