Pune: A month later since the start of the much-needed helpline number to complaint against fair price shops (FPS) in the city, the Food and Supplies Department (FSD) has received over 500 complaints in a month of which 250 were complaints against FPS in the city.
On April 11, members of various organisations including Akhil Bhartiya Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana, Pune Jilha Kamgar Sanghatana (PJKS), Bandhkam Kamgar Sanghatana, Kantrati Kamgar Sanghatana and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a protest outside the district collector’s office demanding changes in the facilities provided by the Public Distribution System (PDS). The members had demanded that the Aadhaar linking with PDS system should be removed and ‘Chavadi Vachan’ (public reading of names of people) should be carried out to check their category of ration card.
Following which the FSD decided to start the helpline number.
Speaking about the helpline number, Raghunath Pote, Food Supply Officer, said that FSD was firm on providing ration to eligible consumers and no eligible consumer would be denied ration at FPS.
“Several people lodged complaints about FPS not giving adequate ration. Similarly, other complaints included that of problems associated with Aadhaar linking, thumbprint not detected by machine at FPS. We have asked the nodal officer to address each and every issue so that people are not denied ration at FPS,” added Pote.
The officer said that no complaints related to FPS being closed or substandard ration allocation was lodged at the helpline.
The department has also directed FPS owners to display name and phone numbers of zonal officers at FPS so that consumers can complain at the number.
Similarly, a consumer can also furnish his name, FPS details, phone number and complaint at the helpline number and officials of the department will provide necessary help to the consumer. “Two persons are dedicated to handling the complaints at helpline number between 8 am and 8 pm,” added Pote.
