'Net facilites for fair price shops soon'

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan said that the department will provide internet connectivity to all fair price shops in the state to ensure convenience to all ration card holders while availing food grains and essential commodities.

The minister at a review meeting on Friday said that currently fair price shop owners are distributing food grains by availing to computers and printers through internet on their own. Poor internet access is making the ration card holders suffer from availing to food grains and other essential commodities.

Under the PPP model, the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department will ensure that all fair price shops are provided with internet facilities.

Due to non availability of internet facilities, coupons are distributed for the ration card holders in 16 places in Dakshina Kannada district. Point of sale machines will be installed at these places shortly, he added.

An officer said that there was more demand for moong dal than tur dal under PDS in a coastal district, which the minister promised to take a call after discussing the issue in the cabinet.

The minister added that 7,009 applications for rations cards pending would be cleared. The applications will be dispensed shortly.

An official said that the target for Anila Bhagya scheme in the district is 1,568 beneficiaries. Along with LPG connections, gas stoves will be distributed free of cost.

Funds have been released for 1,349 beneficiaries. Already 824 beneficiaries have received gas stoves and LPG connections have been given to 581 beneficiaries.

The minister directed the officials to accelerate the implementation of Anila Bhagya scheme in the district.

The minister said that plans for the construction of Hajj Bhavana in Mangaluru are under progress. The land has been identified at Adyar, and the land acquisition process will be initiated shortly.