PREAMBLE

                    The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) functioning through a network of fair price shops/ration shops, aims, primarily at supplementing supplies of foodgrains to the consumers particularly the vulnerable sections of the society, at reasonable prices and recognised food security as a basic right. The Targeted Public Distribution System further accepts a special responsibility for ensuring subsidized foodgrains to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.

                     The Government of Himachal Pradesh therefore, attaches the greatest importance to this programme and accordingly the Department of Food and Supplies, Himachal Pradesh will take all possible steps to implement the Targeted Public Distribution System and its constituent TPDS to the best advantage of the beneficiaries.

COMPONENTS OF THE TARGETED PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM:

                       The essential components of the Targeted Public Distribution System are:-

                        1. Issue of appropriate ration cards to the public.

                       2. Making available adequate quantities of the specified essential commodities of appropriate quantity in fair price shops (FPSs) and ensuring that the ration card holders and the beneficaries get a fair deal at such fair price shops in terms of timely availability, quality, quantity, weighment, periodcity of supplies, courtesy in behaviour etc.

                       3. Establishing an effective monitoring machinery alongwith an efficient and effective grievance redressal system.

COMMITMENT

                       1. This charter is a commitment of the department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs of the Government of Himachal Pradesh to effectively implement various aspects relating to the above components through a series of measures, such as setting standards and time limits and through involvement of the  beneficiaries in ensuring maximum Transparancy and Accountability.

                       2. This charter also recognises the right of the Citizens for relevant information relating to the Targeted Public Distribution System to enable them to participate effectively in ensuring accountability and transparancy at all levels and to ensure that TPDS fulfils its important social purpose.

                        i) The acknowledgement slip will indicate the date on  which the ration card can be collected in case all information as required have been correctly given and it has been possible for the authorities to do the required verification and complete the various formalities.

                             ii) In case the ration card is not ready for collection on the date as specified in the acknowledgement slip the reasons for the delay and the likely date by which the card will be available, will also be invariably intimated.

RATION CARDS

• Every adult and child member of a family or an individual residing in the State will be entitled for a ration card under the rules as prevalent from time to time.
• The rules prescribing eligibility and procedure for issue of ration cards will be widely published and made available to any citizen on demand. 
• Simple application forms in Hindi will be available at District Food & Supplies Controller/Inspector Food & Supplies Office for being filled by the applicants for ration cards.
•  Special arrangement are available at  District Food & Supplies Controller Office / Area Inspector Food & Supplies to help the applicants to fill up the forms properly and to explain the procedure followed before ration cards are issued in their favour.
•  Every applicarion for ration card will be duly acknowledged on the spot and given a suitable registration number.
• The acknowledgement slip will indicate the date on which the ration card can be collected in case all information as requried have been correctly given and it has been possible for the authorities to do the required verification and complete the various formalities. 
•  In case the ration card is not ready for collection on the date as specified in the acknowledgement slip the reasons for the delay and the likely date by which the card will be available, will also be invariably intimated. -All ration card holders will be suitably advised and given appropriate guidance regarding the fair price shop at which they could register their cards for obtaining supplies. Any difficulty faced by the card holders in this regard will be resolved within two days by deputing appropriate inspecting officials to the fair price shop under intimation to the card holder. -All staff and officials having public contact in connection with the issue of ration cards will bear name badges and will attend to the needs of the public courteously and promptly.
  -All staff and officials having public contact in connection with the issue of ration cards will bear name badges and will attend to the needs of the public courteously and promptly. -The names of officials, their designation, telephone numbers and addresses to whom grievances/complaints relating to delay or rejection of application for ration cards could be addressed, will be prominently displayed at the concerned office premises. -All grievances/complaints and other correspondence will be duly registered and acknowledged on the spot across the counter or within 7 days by post. -Final replies to such grievances/complaints etc., will be issued within 30 days.< /> -Where-ever possible computerized information system will be introduced to ensure efficient and effective pursuit and disposal of grievances and complaints. -Stringent steps would be taken to ensure detection of bogus and unauthorized ration cards through a system of effective surprise checks. -The criteria for identifying those below the poverty line to be covered by TPDS will be transparent and widely publicized. -Complaints/grievances regarding inclusion or non-inclusion in the Below Poverty Line target group will be dealt with by bodies like the Gram Panchayat or an official nominated specifically for the purpose, the details regarding which will be prominently displayed in all concerned offices. -Special cards or a different identifiable color will be issued for those below the Poverty Level, which would entitle them to obtain the essential commodities at special subsidized rates -Additions/deletions of family members, change in address, transfer of ration cards etc., will be attended to by the authorities concerned within specified time limit as indicated below:-                     class="rtejustify">                       

  Sr.No	Item of Work	Time Limit	Authority Concerned
  1.	Inclusion / deletion of family members	i) Same day on presentation f card with required proof   ii)Within 7 days if physical verification is necessary (for additions)	Area Rationing Office.
  2.	Change in address within jurisdiction of same fair price shop	Same day	---DO--
  3	Change in address involving change of fair price shop	Within one week.	---DO--
  4.	Issue of surrender certificate on transfer of family to another city.	Same day.	---DO--
  5.	Issue of fresh ration cards on production of surrender certificate within the same State.	Within seven days.	---DO--
  6.	Issue of fresh ration card on production of surrender certificate from another State.	Within fifteen days.	---DO--

   

  FAIR PRICE SHOPS   Category Commodity Issue Price Scale I GOVERNMENT OF INDIA SCHEMES 1. Other than NFSA (i) APL Wheat Atta (Whole Meal) Rs. 9.30 per Kg. 11 Kg. per family for the month Wheat Rs. 7.60 per Kg. Rice Rs. 10.00 per Kg. 6 Kg. per family for the month Note:-The APL consumers of the Tribal Areas of the State are also being provided 20 Kg. Wheat/Atta and 15 Kg. Rice per family per month w.e.f. September,2014. (ii) BPL Wheat Rs. 5.25 per Kg.  As mentioned below: Rice Rs. 6.85 per Kg. Scheme 1 BPL FM 2 BPL FM 3 BPL FM 4 BPL FM 5 BPL FM 6 BPL FM Wheat 17 Kg. 14 Kg. 11 Kg. 8 Kg. 5 Kg. 2 Kg. Rice 13 Kg. 11 Kg. 9 Kg. 7 Kg. 5 Kg. 3 Kg. (iii) APY Rice Free of Cost 10 Kg. per person per month 2. NFSA       (i) AAY Wheat/Atta Rs. 2.00 per Kg./Rs. 3.20 per Kg. 20 Kg. per family per month/18.800 Kg. per family per month Rice Rs. 3.00 per Kg. 15 Kg. per family per month (ii) Priority Households Wheat/Atta Rs. 2.00 per Kg./Rs. 3.20 per Kg. 3 Kg. per member per month/2.800 Kg. per member per month Rice Rs. 3.00 per Kg. 2 Kg. per member per month The PHH beneficiaries (upto 3 members) are also provided additional foodgrains (wheat & Rice) from OTNFSA allocation of the State at OTNFSA (APL) rates to make their entitlement    @ 10,15 & 20 Kg. per card. 3. OTNFSA (APL) Sugar Rs. 30.00 per Kg. 500 Gram. per head per month  Note : 1 Kg. in case of AAY ration card having 1 family member. OTNFSA(APL)Taxpayer Rs.41.00 per Kg. NFSA Rs. 13.00 per Kg.     II GOVERNMENT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH SCHEMES S. NO. NAME OF COMMODITIES NFSA RATES OTNFSA (APL) RATES OTNFSA (APL) TAXPAYER  RATES SCALE 1. Dal Urd Sabut Rs. 54.00 per Kg. Rs. 64.00 per Kg. Rs. 88.00 per Kg. 1 Kg. per family per month 2. Dal Channa Rs. 33.00 per Kg. Rs. 43.00 per Kg. Rs. 65.00 per Kg. 1 Kg. per family per month 3. Dal Mlaka Rs. 60.00 per Kg. Rs. 70.00 per Kg. Rs. 94.00 per Kg. 1 Kg. per family per month 4. Moong Sabut  Rs. 56.00 per Kg. Rs. 66.00 per Kg. Rs. 90.00 per Kg. 1 Kg. per family per month 5. Soya (R.Oil) Rs. 122.00 per Kg. Rs. 127.00 per Kg. Rs. 144.00 per Kg. 1 ltr. per ration card having 1 & 2 members and 2 ltr. having 3 & above family members per month. 6. E.Oil  (M.Oil) Rs. 151.00 per Kg Rs. 156.00 per Kg. Rs. 175.00 per Kg. 7. D.F.Salt Rs. 8.00 per Kg. Rs. 8.00 per Kg. Rs. 16.00 per Kg. 1 Kg. per family per month

  Note:- Intimation regarding enhanced supply of any of the items during festival seasons etc. will be given wide publicity.

  MONITORING MACHINERY AND GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL   1.The consumers attached to the fair price shop will be entitled to inspect the following registers:-      -Stock register showing allocation to the shop from time to time.    -Sales Register, showing quantities sold to the ration card holders.    -The ration card register showing the details of the ration cards registered at the fair price shop.     -The names, designation , telephone number and address of the official to whom       discrepancies/irregularities if any in the above records may be brought to the notice will be prominently       displayed in all fair price shops. 2.An effective and efficient inspection mechanism will be set up by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to check not only according to the prescribed schedule but also through surprise visits, the quality and quantity of the essential commodities supplied through the fair price shop, as also its smooth functioning in terms of the opening and closing times of the fair price shop, display of requisite information and samples besides the General behavior of the fair price shop owner and its worker with the beneficiaries. 3.The fair price shop will display prominently the procedure for lodging complaints alongwith the names, telephone numbers and addresses of the official concerned regarding the quality and quantity of ration, their availability as also other problems if any faced by the beneficiaries. 4.Wide publicity will be given to the allocations of various commodities to the District, Taluks and fair price shop and the Municipal and Panchayat authorities concerned will be kept informed of the allocations made and quantities actually distributed every month. 5.Appropriate training and orientation programme would be organized to motivate the staff engaged in implementation of TPDS and to ensure their observing these Charter Principles, suitable incentives will be considered for rewarding good work while ensuring that lapses, if any, are dealt with firmly. Appropriate Vigilance Committees will be constituted at various levels to review all aspects of the functioning of the scheme periodically as follows:- -Fair Price Shop level or Zonal/Area Committee/Sub- Divisional Level Committee should be formed by adding beneficiaries consumers from  APL ,BPL, Antyodaya Anna Yojna & Annapurna beneficiaries.  Similarly District level committee should also be formed and the beneficiaries members as well as voluntary organizations member should be included in the committees. -This will comprise of five or six selected card holders attached to the fair price shops (who will be replaced every 6 months) , social workers of the area, particularly those representing Women’s Organizations and one or two officials of appropriate level of the Zonal/Area level officers concerned with the TPDS and will function under a well known personality of the area or a representative to be nominated by any well established consumer organization of the area, (to be rotated once a year).  The Area Committee will cover 10 to 20 fair price shop of the area and report to the District Food & Supplies Controller about the functioning of the fair price shop and related problems.    -DISTRICT LEVEL COMMITTEE: This will comprise of about 10 members drawn from amongst the beneficiary groups Social/ Consumer Organizations, peoples’ elected representatives, be presided over by the District Collector. -STATE/ UT  LEVEL COMMITTEE: This will consist of concerned senior level officials of the Govt. members of Parliament/ Member of Legislative Assemblies, Representatives of well established Consumers Organizations/ well known consumer activists, Youth and Women's’ Organizations and one or two journalists of reputes. The Committee will  function under the Chairmanship of (the Chief Minister or) the Minister-in- Charge of Food and Civil Supplies and review quarterly various aspects relating overall functioning and efficacy of the Scheme. 7.All the above Committees will review the position relating to grievance/ complaint redressal in their respective areas  and look into any pending cases and also suggest implementation of various remedial measures for solving recurring problems and procedural and other shortcomings. Note: This may vary from state to state who may set up suitably structured mechanism for such Vigilance Committees at different levels.