Ration Card holders complain on FPS collecting internet fee

Mysore/Mysuru: The first-ever phone-in program conducted by the Food and Civil Supplies Department in the district today, saw a number of Ration Card holders complaining about collection of internet fee of Rs. 10 to Rs. 20 by some Fair Price Shops (FPS) from every card holder. 

The hour-long phone-in programme took place between 11 am and 12 noon at the office of the Joint Director of the Department located in the new Deputy Commissioner’s office in Siddarthanagar. Of the 47 calls received during the programme, 31 were from the city alone.

Most of the complaints were that some of the Fair Price Shops in the city and district were collecting a Internet and WiFi service fee of Rs. 10 to Rs. 20 illegally, though there is no provision for such a collection from either BPL or APL card holders.

The Department officials who clarified that no Fair Price Shop is authorised to collect such a fee, they said that action will be taken against erring Fair Price Shops. 

Other complaints were on under-weighing of ration grains, irregular opening of Fair Price Shops, absence of the phone  number of the jurisdictional Food Inspector and other issues concerning ration arrivalsand distribution. Queries were also received regarding the procedures, along with the documents required  for getting  BPL and APL cards and the ways for addition/ deletion of names and any other corrections regarding address, details  of  card members  etc.,in Ration Cards.

Food and Civil Supplies Joint Director M. Shivanna, Assistant Director M.K. Ramani, Office Manager Satish, SDA Shashidhar Nayak, Programmer Nagendra Hebbar an other staff took part.

Phone-in Programme every Monday

Speaking to Star of Mysore Food and Civil Supplies Joint Director M. Shivanna said that today was the first Phone-in programme and from now on, this hour-long programme (11 am to 12 noon) will take place every Mondays of all months.

Pointing out that the service commission for Fair Price Shop owners has been increased from Rs. 65 to Rs. 100 per quintal, which includes all charges including internet, Shivanna said that action will be taken against Fair Price Shops if there are complaints of collection of a fee from Ration Card holders.

Reiterating that shop owners cannot collect the fee, he said that any complaints regarding distribution of ration can be immediately made to the respective Food Inspector or other officials of the Department.