SHILLONG: A three-day training programme for Meghalaya on FEAST (Food & Essential Commodities Assurance & Security Target) application for supply chain management started on Monday with sessions involving supply officials following which key issues in its field implementation was discussed as per role in supply chain operations.
The training-cum-workshop is being conducted by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, government of India along with the Department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, government of Meghalaya.
Speaking at the inaugural programme, Project Manager of Food and Civil Supply SK War said the workshop on the supply chain management is part and parcel of the implementation of the National Food Security Act.
He mentioned that the Supreme Court of India has issued directions from time to time regarding computerisation of Targted Public Distribution System (TPDS) on a priority basis.
As per the SC’s directions, the central government has initiated a plan scheme called ‘End-to-end computerisation of TPDS operations’ on cost-sharing basis with the states.
“We have completed most of the activities except the full operationalisation of supply chain management including the wholesaler module and the FPS automation project”, War said.
The plan scheme comprises of digitisation of ration cards/beneficiary and other databases, computerisation of supply chain management, setting up of transparency portals, FPS automation etc.
War said that one of the most important reasons for the exercise is to bring about efficiency and transparency in the implementation of the PDS. He assured that the state government is committed to such implementation as the lack of fairness and transparency may render the whole exercise meaningless, besides leading to legal scrutiny.
As for the workshop, he said that it is a platform for the officials and staff of the department to clear doubts regarding the implementation of the scheme.
Stating that the government has taken a historic step of implementing the end-to-end computerisation of TPDS, War said that the scheme needs to be implemented in the true spirit in coordination with and cooperation among all the stakeholders including the officials of the department and the wholesalers.
On Monday, the officials of the department present were from Nongpoh, Nongstoin, Mairang, Mawkyrwat, Sohra, Khliehriat, Jowai and Amlarem.
