Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel reviewed departmental work in a meeting with senior officials at the Mahanadi Bhawan in Raipur. Baghel emphasized the government’s decision to provide a three-month supply of rice to all ration card holders from June to August. He highlighted the commencement of rice distribution through 13,965 government fair price shops across the state from June 1st. Baghel instructed officials to expedite distribution and ensure all cardholders receive their allocated rice. He mandated immediate action on any complaints regarding irregularities in rice distribution. The minister also inquired about the status of rice storage in fair price shops.
Baghel also examined the stock verification actions from 2022-23 to 2024-25. Officials reported that the recovery of food grains found to be short after physical verification in September 2022 is being carried out swiftly. Approximately 124 crore rupees worth of ration materials were found to be missing from 335 fair price shops, with 119 crore rupees recovered. The remaining 5 crore rupees are under recovery. Furthermore, FIRs were filed against 27 fair price shop operators. Baghel instructed officials to expedite the remaining recoveries. He also inquired about the distribution and storage of chickpea.
Additionally, Minister Baghel reviewed the rice deposit status in the Central and State pools by millers during the Kharif marketing years 2023-24 and 2024-25. Officials informed that millers have been given until June 30th to deposit the remaining 0.88 lakh metric tons of rice for 2023-24. In the Kharif marketing year 2024-25, 25.43 lakh metric tons of rice is to be deposited, of which 14.86 lakh metric tons have been procured, representing 58.43 percent of the total. The process of depositing the remaining rice is progressing rapidly. Baghel directed that no extension be granted beyond the June 30th deadline for depositing rice for the financial year 2023-24 and instructed the acceleration of rice deposits. He also reviewed preparations for paddy procurement in the upcoming Kharif marketing year 2025-26, preparations for procurement arrangements in the committees, the physical condition of paddy at the collection centers, the payment of incentive amounts to millers, and the updated status of court cases.
Minister Baghel also announced the initiation of a recruitment process to fill vacant positions. He directed officials to send recruitment proposals to PSC and Vyapam for positions already approved by the finance department. He stated that actions should be taken to fill vacant positions of chairpersons and members in consumer commissions at the state and district levels in accordance with the law. He emphasized the speedy resolution of pending cases in the commissions. The minister reviewed the progress of the Legal Metrology Department. Officials from the Weights and Measures Department reported a revenue of 13.5 crore rupees from verification and stamping in 2024-25. Additionally, 2.21 lakh weighing and measuring instruments were verified. Baghel said that the measurement process should be simplified. The time limit for issuing licenses should also be reduced.