Tura, Feb 2: The District Level Vigilance Committee Meeting on Public Distribution System (PDS) under West Garo Hills was held today at DRDA Conference Hall, Tura where the Adviser to the Chief Minister, Government of Meghalaya and MLA North Tura Thomas A Sangma attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner (Supply) and Chairman of the Committee informed that the District Level Vigilance Committee was constituted as per the provisions of the Meghalaya Food Security Rules, 2018 for a term of one year with Deputy Commissioner (Supply) as the Chairman, Deputy Director (Supply) as Member Secretary, Member of Legislative Assembly, 50-North Tura Constituency as Member, Member of GHADC, 9-Tura GHADC Constituency as Member, Sub-Divisional Officer (Supply), Dadenggre Civil Sub Division, Block Development Officers under WGH, District Manager, Food Corporation of India, Tura, President Chambers of Commerce, Tura and President Mothers’ Union, Tura as Members of the committee.
He further informed that the functions of the committee are to regularly supervise the implementation of all schemes under NFSA including Midday Meal Scheme under the Education department, Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) and Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) under Social Welfare Department and NFSA 2013 under Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. Besides, holding meetings on a quarterly basis, the committee should ensure proper distribution of all PDS items to the concerned beneficiaries and in case of any violation of the provision of the Act, the matter should be reported to the Grievance Redressal Officer, he stated.
Mentioning that the Vigilance Committee should also be formed in the Sub-Division and Block levels, he said that the Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO) should be from the rank of ADC/EAC and should accept the complaints from the public, monitor and redress complaints lodged and also implement social audit and regularly send utilization certificates of all schemes to the Directorate. He further informed that the State Government has set up a robust and efficient and internal system of grievance redressal for disposal of complaints relating to the Act consisting of call center based helpline with toll-free number 1967 along with a web-based grievance redressal portal www.megpgrams.gov.in and can also send via WhatsApp messages on 9402327737.
Meanwhile, participating in the meeting, Thomas A Sangma enquired about the implementation of all the schemes related to PDS and the status of distribution of Midday Meal scheme and other nutritional items to beneficiaries in the district and urged the concerned officials to sensitize and make the people aware to make use of the facilities available in the district.
Additional Deputy Commissioner and Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO), WGH Dr. Rezina Ch Marak, CEO, Tura Municipal Board, Rezia Ch Sangma, Deputy Director (Supply) and Assistant Grievance Redressal Officer (AGRO), Nemson M Marak, Block Development Officers under West Garo Hills district and Officials of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, West Garo Hills were among others who attended the meeting.
