Ration shops across state to remain open in two phases

Kolkata: The state Food & Supplies department will keep ration shops open in two phases daily to avoid overcrowding.

Ration shops across the state will be open from 8 am to 12 noon and again from 2 pm to 8 pm from Friday, till May 31.

The decision has been taken "so that proper staggering of the beneficiaries may take place to avoid overcrowding" a notification issued by the secretary of the department Parwez Ahmed Siddiqui stated. The shops will remain closed on May 25 on account of Eid- ul -Fitr. District Magistrates and Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation may decide to modify the timings based on local requirements after intimation to the department.

"The owners of ration shops and the employees were often not getting time for having their lunch catering to the beneficiaries. The revised timing will allow them to have their lunch and also take some rest," said Food and Supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick. There are around 21,000 ration shops across the state.

The department has received complaints against a section of ration shop owners who have been allegedly giving customers less quantity of food grains.

Inspectors have been posted in all the blocks from where such complaints were received. They have been provided with vehicles to keep track of the distribution process and report immediately in case of any irregularities.

"The concerned DM's have been advised to lay special emphasis on distribution in these areas," a senior official of the department said.