Jammu: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana on Tuesday directed officials to ensure that every eligible household is covered under the Public Distribution System (PDS), stressing that no deserving beneficiary should be excluded from the food security network.
Chairing his maiden review meeting of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu, Rana reviewed the functioning of the department, ongoing reforms and measures to strengthen foodgrain distribution and consumer protection.
He called for sustained coordination with the Government of India to secure additional foodgrain allocations, particularly to address the requirements of vulnerable and economically weaker sections of society.
Rana also called for making the PDS more transparent, accessible and beneficiary-friendly, with timely delivery of welfare benefits.
Reviewing the Legal Metrology Department, officials informed the minister that it conducted 53,144 inspections and registered 2,952 cases during 2025-26, generating revenue of ₹538.62 lakh, which amounted to 108 per cent of its annual target.
The department has made all its services available online through the J&K Single Window platform. It ranks third on the platform in terms of online applications received and disposed of, with an average processing time of 11 days.
Officials also briefed the minister about the J&K Government Approved Test Centres Rules, 2026, which provide for third-party verification of weights and measures.
As part of its consumer outreach activities, the department organised 485 verification camps, 764 consumer awareness programmes and 807 trader workshops during the year. It also plans to hold interactive sessions with trader associations to encourage voluntary compliance.
Rana stressed the need for stricter enforcement of prescribed standards in commercial establishments, particularly regarding accurate fuel dispensing at petrol pumps and correct measurement of packaged commodities.
He also reviewed the functioning of the Secondary Standards Laboratory and other departmental laboratories, emphasising the need for technological upgradation and modernisation of infrastructure to improve the accuracy and reliability of weights and measures verification.
The minister directed officials to closely monitor departmental activities, ensure timely achievement of targets and simplify procedures to facilitate the trading community while safeguarding consumer interests.
