[24th April 2023] In
exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 40 of
the National Food Security Act, 2013 (20 of 2013) and of all other powers
enabling it in this behalf, the Government of Maharashtra after considering the
objections and suggestions, hereby makes the following rules, namely :- These
rules may be called the Maharashtra Food Security (Amendment) Rules, 2023. In rule
4 of the Maharashtra Food Security Rules, 2019 (hereinafter referred to as
"the principal rules") to clause (ii), the following clauses shall be
added, namely :- "(4) (iii) (a) For the purpose of section 14 of
the Act, following of the officers of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection
Department shall function as a Nodal Officer for Internal Grievance Redressal
Mechanism in their respective jurisdiction. Sr. No Name of the Nodal Officer Region/Area (1) (2) (3) 1. Inspecting
Officer Tehsil 2. Assistant
District Supply Officer District 3. Rationing
Officer Area
covered under respective rationing offices in Mumbai-Thane Rationing Area 4. Assistant
Controller of Rationing Respective
regions in Mumbai-Thane Rationing Area 5. Assistant
Food Distribution Officer Respective
regions in Pune, Solapur and Nagpur Urban Area 6. Zonal Officer Pune, Solapur
and Nagpur Urban Area (b)
Nodal Officers shall resolve the complaints received by them. The complaints
beyond his jurisdiction shall be forwarded to the concerned authority. "4A. District Grievance
Redressal Officer - Officer
not below the rank of the Additional Collector shall be designated by the State
Government to be the District Grievance Redressal Officer for their respective
district. Provided
that, officer directly engaged in the delivery of entitlements under the Act
shall not be designated as District Grievance Redressal Officer." " 6A (1) The State Government shall appoint, by notification, a
Commission to be known as the "State Food Commission", as per
provisions of section 16 of the Act. (2)
For appointment of Chairperson and members of the State Food Commission, the
application shall be invited through a public notice in newspapers/ website of
the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department. (3)
A screening committee shall shortlist the available candidates for appointment
of Chairperson and members of the State Food Commission. The said screening
committee shall consist as following :- (a)
Secretary,
Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department - Chairman; (b)
Controller,
Rationing and Director, Civil Supplies, under the Food, Civil Supplies and
Consumer Protection Department - Member ; (c)
Deputy
or Joint Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department -
Member. (4)
The list of candidates shortlisted by the committee shall be submitted to the
State Government for consideration of appointment of the Chairperson and
members.". "7A. Staff of the State Food
Commission. (1)
The
State Government shall make available to the State Food Commission, such
administrative and technical staff, as it may consider necessary for the proper
functioning of the State Commission. (2)
The
method of appointment of the staff under sub-rule (1) above, their salaries,
allowances and conditions of service shall be such, as may be specified by the
State Government.". "CHAPTER V TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY 11. All
the lists regarding eligible beneficiaries and the allocation of food grains in
the State shall be regularly updated by the State Government on its official
website, from time to time for the inspection to the public. 12. The
State Government shall at regular intervals conduct Social Audit of the
Targeted Public Distribution System and other welfare schemes as specified in
the section 28 of the Act. The
method of conduction of Social Audit shall be such, as decided by the
Government, from time to time. 13. (1)
For ensuring transparency and proper functioning of Targeted Public
Distribution System and accountability of the functionaries, the State
Government shall set up State Vigilance Committees as specified in the section
29 of the Act. (2)
The various level Vigilance Committees, shall be at the State level, District
level, Taluka level, Village level, Municipal Council level and Municipal
Corporation level. (3)
The composition of the vigilance Committees shall be such as may be decided by
the State Government from time to time. CHAPTER VI MISCELLANEOUS 14. The
State Government may, at any time, if so desires utilize the service of the
institutional mechanism established under the Act for any other schemes or programmes
of the Central Government or the State Governments as mentioned under section
43 of the Act.".Maharashtra
Food Security (Amendment) Rules, 2023
After rule 4 of the principal rule, following rules shall be inserted, namely
:-
Before rule 7 of the principal rules, the following rule shall be added, namely
:-
After rule 7 of the principal rules, the following rule shall be inserted,
namely :-
After rule 10 of the principal rules, following Chapters shall be added, namely
:-