Outreach Program on Public Distribution System

The Government of Karnataka, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, has identified CREAT as the nodal organization to conduct public awareness program on Public Distribution System (PDS) and Fair Price Shops (FPS) in Karnataka. The objectives of the campaign are to:

• Sensitize the ration cardholders about their rights and responsibilities in the FPS.
• Create awareness among the public about the working of PDS
• Disseminate information about the Citizens’ Charter published by the Department
• Identify the grievances of the ration cardholders and bring it to the notice of the concerned officials for redressal
• Improve the working of Vigilance Committees attached to FPS
• Improve the relationship between the owners of FPS, officials and the cardholders

 

 

The above objectives are sought to be achieved by way of organizing outreach meetings, publications, discussions, training etc. Following are some of the activities planned:

• Identifying civil society organizations which can be partners of this program
• Organizing a two day capacity building program at Bangalore
• Conducting one day outreach programs in each of the 25 districts of Karnataka
• Preparation of a training module
• Printing and distribution of PDS Citizens’ Charters and handouts
• Preparing a four pages newsletter highlighting the activities under the program and PDS related news items
• Organizing a review meeting/concluding workshop for partner organizations

 

 

Time frame:

The project has commenced from 1st May 2009 and will be completed by end of August 2009

Outcome of the project:

At the end of the program the following are expected:

• Reaching out to 5000 citizens and informing them about the PDS and FPS
• Emergence of 50 activists/groups who are well informed about PDS/FPS/Right to Food
• A base paper highlighting the problems, difficulties and grievances of ration cardholders. This paper can be used for advocacy purposes

 

 

Contents/topics for district level outreach programs:

In each of the district or taluka level outreach meetings the following topics will be discussed:

• The working of the PDS and FPS
• Citizens' Charter issued by the Department
• Grievance Redressal machinery in PDS/FPS
• Rights and responsibilities of FPS owners
• Vigilance Committees and its activities
• Rights and entitlement of ration cardholders
• Using Right to Information Act for getting information from PDS/FPS
• Provisions of the Weights and Measures Act and Consumer Protection Act
• Activities completed (up to 20th May 2009)

 

 

Two day capacity building program was held on 1 & 2 May 2009 at National Law School of India University campus.

Training module and handouts prepared and distributed to the participants in the above workshop

 

 

Upcoming events:

Details of organizations/partners identified for conducting district level outreach programs:

	Name of the Organization/Organiser	Date/ Place of Workshop
1.	Jana Pare Seva Samstha. Mr. Ashok Halagali	31.05.09 Belgaum
2.	Jana Jagruthi Vedike, Chinthamani Mr. Manjunath Reddy	20.06.09 Chintamani 30.06.09 (Govinipali) Srinivasapura
3.	S.S. Rajani Bidar- Spandana Bagalkot - BIRDS	8/6/09, Bidar- (Spandana) 6.06.09,Bagalkot (BIRDS)
4.	HAMSA. Chitradurga Mr. R.B. Budensab	3.06.09 Chitradurga
5.	Consumer Rights Education Awareness Voluntary Organization.  Chikmagalur Ms. Vasantha Mala	28.5.09 Chikmagalur
6.	Varshini Grameena Abhivrudhi Mahila Mandali. Davangere Mr. N.M. Someshekhar	30.05.09 Davangere
7.	Community Resource Development Society ( CRDS), Vijapur Mr. Gurubalappa M. Biradar	19.05.09  Vijapur
8.	DEEDS, Mangalore Mr. Thukarama Yekkaru	Date to be finalised

 

 

Powered by :Business Online Bengaluru