Bangalore: The State Government has appointed district-level committees to oversee the implementation of food security measures and programmes. The committees are made up of the district in-charge Secretary, the Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat.

The committees will hear and redress grievances of the public. The Supreme Court ordered the setting up of the committees based on the recommendations of the court-appointed commissioner on ways to improve the functioning of the public distribution system, the Integrated Child Development Scheme, the food-for-work programme, the midday meal programme and the issuing of ration cards.

Principal Secretary R. Suresh said the committees have to meet on first and third Saturdays of each month. If they happen to be holidays the meeting will be held the previous working day. Members must compulsorily attend the meetings and the meetings should take precedence over all other meetings or official work. The Secretary in charge of the district must attend at least one of the two meetings in a month.

All grievances received up to the end of working hours on the previous Saturday should be taken up for consideration. Complainants need not be present, but the officials concerned should be present with the information required. The committees should take on-the-spot decisions and the name or names of the officials responsible for implementing the decision should be recorded, he said.

The number of petitions received, the relief given, the petitions rejected and the number of pending petitions must be informed to the Principal Secretary, Public Grievances Cell, on the Monday after the meeting.

The committees have powers to initiate action against officials for delay in complying with its orders or not implementing its decisions.

Mr. Suresh said the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner will monitor the new mechanism. In some districts, petitions are not being received because of lack of publicity. The deputy commissioners have been asked to inform the public, he added.

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