Helpline for beneficiaries started

Chandigarh, Aug 22 (UNI) The Punjab Government today started a dedicated helpline in the Food and Civil Supplies Department here to receive complaints, if any, regarding quality, quantity and non-availability of wheat and "dal" to blue card holders at various depots in the State.

The helpline with telephone number 95172-2702120 has been installed in the Special Cell created by the Food and Supplies Department to monitor the distribution of subsidized wheat and "dal" to 1.4 million poor families of the state.

The complaints on this phone would be received by a Nodal Officer from 0900 hours to 1700 hours on all working days.

A Government spokesman said that all depot holders had been instructed to display this telephone number boldly on the Stock Board of the ration depot. The board should also display information regarding stock and number of beneficiaries who had already lifted the stock for the month.

The spokesman clarified that this helpline was only for existing Blue Card holders. Any complaint regarding non exclusion of any family from this scheme should be forwarded to local Deputy Commissioner.

The spokesman said the State Government had already put in place a detailed monitoring system to ensure proper distribution of wheat and "dal" to the beneficiaries. As many as 859 Food Inspectors, 119 Assistant Food and Supply Officers, 46 District Food and Supply Officers, 20 District Food and Supply Controllers and 3 Deputy Directors posted in the field have been issued instructions to monitor the quality and quantity of stock at 14,250 ration depots in the state.

UNI