Introduction
In April, 1966 Statutory Rationing was introduced in Greater Mumbai and the Industrial complex of Thane which included the Thane Town, Kalyan, Belapur, Ulhasnagar and Ambernath. All these areas are operating the Rationing Scheme under provisions of the Maharashtra food grain (second) Ration Order of 1966.
The Rationing Organization is headed by the Controller of Rationing. The team comprises of 2 Deputy Controllers who assist The Controller in supervising Indent, Shops, Establishments, Administration, Accounts, General, Enforcement, Kerosene etc. There are other five Deputy Controller of Rationing that are in charge of each regions, 04 in Mumbai and 01 in Thane. Under theses 5 regions 46 Rationing Offices working.
General control is managed by Food and Civil Supplies department & they also issue directives in policy & other related matters.
Mumbai & Thane area is serviced by 46 Rationing offices. In each Rationing office the day-to-day functioning is supervised by 1 to 2 Assistant Rationing Officers & is supervised by a Rationing. Each Rationing Office works as Nodal Agency for issue New Ration Card/ cancellation of Name/ Addition of Name /changes in Address. etc.
The general public members visit the Rationing offices for all work connected to public distribution & hence the rationing office becomes the public face of the Rationing Organisation. There is a conscious effort to maintain a proper check from time to time to ensure proper distribution of the Rationed commodities to the public. Regular updates & various statutory forms are now being made available on the official website on periodic basis.
The Scope of work of the rationing department includes transporting the rationed commodities from the FCI godowns. It also monitors smooth & fair distribution of food grains, wheat, rice, sugar etc., in all the regions through their respective Rationing offices/ shops. This Organization also undertakes to supply certain essential commodities such as edible oil, vanaspati etc., whenever there is a shortage in supply & it also issues licences under solvent orders.
Since these commodities are meant to be distributed for public welfare & consumption, the Organization has to keep a close watch and vigil on the efficiency of supply and availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices to the common consumer. In 2001 Director of Civil Supplies office was attached to this office. Director of Civil Supplies looks after lifting of foodgrains of different schemes like Antyodaya and PHH directly from FCI godowns as per allotment issued by Govt. of Maharashtra.
Under the Public Distribution System, wheat and rice are picked up from the Food Corporation of India godown. Green color coding has been made mandatory for all vehicles to identify the vehicles transporting foodgrains. And there are also boards in the form of grains to be distributed under the public distribution system. A GPS system has been implemented on every vehicle transporting food grains to prevent leakage of food grains from the time it is picked up from the Food Corporation of India godown till it reaches the official ration shop.
5 Regions of MTRA (Mumbai Thane Rationing Area)
- Deputy Controller Of Rationing (A – Region Parel)
- Deputy Controller Of Rationing (D – Region Santacruz)
- Deputy Controller Of Rationing (E – Region Wadala)
- Deputy Controller Of Rationing (G – Region Kandivali)
- Deputy Controller Of Rationing (F – Region Thane)
46 Rationing Offices in MTRA under 5 divisions.
Under the public distribution system and at present under the National Food Security Act 2013, this office is responsible for direct distribution of foodgrains to the authorized ration shopkeepers for Mumbai/Thane ration area under the National Food Security Act 2013 and storage, handling and distribution of edible oil if the allocation is approved under the financial aid scheme. The work is with this office.
| Sr.No. | Godown,Name | Capacity of Godown | Status of Godwon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thane Kopri Godown,Kopri Colony, Gawdevi Road, Thane (East). | 1706 | This Godown acquired for election work. |
| 2 | Bhiwandi Warehouse Govt Grain Godown no. 2, Opposite Court, Bhiwandi 421 302. | 1279.5 | 50 |
| 3 | Kalyan Godown,Murbad Road, Near Rest House. | 2596 | This Godown acquired for election work. |
| 4 | Ulhasnagar Godown, GANDHI ROAD, CAMP NO. 5, Near Tehsildar Office, Ulhasnagar-5 | 3142 | Public Works Department vide letter dated 19/8/2015 has informed that it is unfit for use and movement. |
Quality of Grain :-
For storage and monitoring of foodgrains in a governmental manner, the said grain stock before picking up the grain from the godown by the technically trained officers/employees of the Government of India Grain Storage, Research and Training Centre, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh has successfully completed a long term training. After ensuring that the grain is picked.
Direct Transport
In order to bring more transparency at all stages under Targeted Public Distribution System and to deliver foodgrains to the beneficiaries regularly and within prescribed time frame, an improved foodgrain distribution system has been prescribed as per the Government Decision at Reference No.1. According to this new transportation method, food grains are transported from the base depot of the Food Corporation of India to the ration shops through a single transporter district wise at government expense.
Dated November 26, 2012 and dated As per the government decision dated 20th April, 2017, direct transport contracts have been implemented in all the districts of the state in both phases of transport as well as in Mumbai Thane rationing area circle in these metropolitan areas.
| Sr.No. | Region Name | Transporter Name | Total Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Region, Parel. | J.B Grain Dealers Association | 26 |
| 2 | D Region, Santacruz. | Creative Grain and Transportation Service Pvt. Ltd | 10 |
| 3 | E Region, Wadala | Shirish Cargo Services Pvt. Ltd. | 45 |
| 4 | G Region, Kandivali | Sainath Grain Traders Pvt. Ltd. | 35 |
| 5 | F Region, Thane | Aakash Consumers Cooperative Society ltd. | 137 | Total | 253 |