Jammu, Nov 3: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, on Tuesday chaired his maiden review meeting of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, taking stock of the Public Distribution System (PDS), Legal Metrology and ongoing departmental reforms.
The meeting focused on strengthening food security, improving public service delivery, ensuring transparency in the distribution system and protecting consumer rights.
During the review, officers briefed the Minister on measures undertaken to streamline the PDS through technology-driven interventions and make it more accessible and beneficiary-friendly. Rana stressed the need for close coordination with the Government of India to augment foodgrain allocations, particularly for vulnerable and economically weaker sections.
He directed the department to ensure that every eligible household is covered under the PDS and no deserving beneficiary is excluded from the welfare network. He called for simplifying procedures and making the delivery mechanism transparent, convenient and hassle-free.
Reviewing Legal Metrology, the Minister emphasised strict enforcement of prescribed standards of weights and measures to protect consumers and promote fair trade practices. He specifically called for ensuring accurate dispensing of fuel at petrol pumps and correct measurement of packaged commodities.
Officers informed the meeting that all departmental services had been brought online through the J&K Single Window platform. During 2025-26, the department conducted 53,144 inspections, registered 2,952 cases and generated revenue of ₹538.62 lakh, achieving 108 per cent of its annual target.
The department also organised 485 verification camps, 764 consumer awareness programmes and 807 trader workshops during the year. It ranks third on the J&K Single Window System in terms of online applications received and disposed of, with an average processing time of 11 days.
The Minister was also briefed on the J&K Government Approved Test Centres Rules, 2026, which provide for third-party verification of weights and measures. He reviewed the functioning of the Secondary Standards Laboratory and other departmental laboratories, stressing the need for modern equipment and technological upgradation to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Rana called for stronger monitoring, timely achievement of targets and improved coordination among departmental wings. He also underlined the need to facilitate the trading community through simplified procedures and better ease of doing business while keeping consumer interests paramount.
The meeting was attended by Controller, Legal Metrology Shiv Kumar Gupta; Director General, FCS&CA Jammu, Rajesh Kumar Shavan; Joint Director Minakshi Vaid; Deputy Directors Sham Lal Abrol and Jyoti; Rehana Tabassam; and other senior departmental officers.