CSC Chairman vows to make PDS graft free

Warangal: Civil Supplies Corporation (CSC) Chairman Peddi Sudarshan Reddy has vowed to cleanse the Corporation of corruption and maintained that it has set an ambitious target to procure 30 lakh tons of paddy from 31 districts.

The Chairman said that new ration cards would be issued soon with the logo of the government of Telangana. The State government has taken a serious view of diversion of PDS rice into black market and threatened to invoke the PD Act against the traders siphoning off the PDS rice to other channels.

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Highlights:

• Plans afoot to turn FP shops into PR centers
• The target is to procure 30 lakh tons of paddy from 31 districts
• 2,000 procurement centres have been set up so far

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Plans have been drawn to convert the fair-price shops into public relations centers resolving the FP traders’ problems. Peddi Sudarshan Reddy in a free and frank interview with The Hans of India shared his views on reforming the civil supplies department. The following are the excerpts:

Q: How do you feel to assume the office of the Chairman at a time when the Civil Supplies Corporation became notorious for corruption?
A: It is a fact that there is corruption in the corporation. It would be groomed as a care of address for service to common man fully cleansing the corporation of the corruption. Our goal is to extend the best ever services to the poor.

Q: What would be your action plan to check diversion of 60per cent of the PDS rice to black market?
A: Yes, more than 60 per cent of the PDS rice is being diverted to other markets. Going by the number of vigilance cases registered, it is true that the PDS rice is being smuggled to neighbouring states and countries.

The State Government has taken a serious view of smuggling of PDS rice. Activities of those who indulge in irregularities in the guise of FP traders are being watched. Plans are being drawn to invoke the PD Act against the dealers and to punish them sternly.

Q: Even two and half years of government coming to power in Telangana state, ration cards with Telangana Government logo have not been issued? How do you respond to this?
A: Arrangements are being made to issue new PDS policy in the state and to issue new ration cards. Ration cards with Government of Telangana logo would be issued soon. The Civil Supplies Department would be cleansed thoroughly of corruption and the corporation would be made corruption-free.

Q: Paddy farmers are facing problems for want of paddy purchase centers in the market yard? What measures do you contemplate to procure paddy from farmers?
A: So far, 2000 procurement centers have been set up in 31 districts. Target has been set up to procure 30 lakh tons. All measures to procure paddy have been put in place.

Paddy has been harvested in only three districts. It would take at least a fortnight to harvest paddy in rest of the districts. The civil supplies corporation is fully prepared to lift paddy from the farmers.

Q: Ration dealers had agitated in the past for redressal of their grievances. How the civil supplies corporation is going to render justice to the dealers?
A: The State government is contemplating to resolve the FP dealers’ problems. Arrangements are being made to convert the FP shops into public relations centers. Measures are being initiated to introduce banking services in ration shops.

Q: How would you forge ahead coordinating efforts with the senior minister and the IPS officer in the department?
A: Civil Supplies Minister Eatala Rajender and Commissioner CV Anand earned reputation as every efficient public servant. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao gave me an opportunity to strengthen the department.

I along with the two others would forge ahead with the team spirit and improve the credibility of the civil supplies department among the people. We will introduce reforms in the department so as to bring good name to the government.