Mohd Irfan
Resentment is brewing among the Public Distribution System (PDS) consumers in Ramzanpura over the poor quality and adulteration of PDS flour supplied by the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department. Consumers lament that the department is duty-bound to ensure the supply of good-quality flour, yet in February 2025, they received substandard PDS flour from the ration depot, making it unfit for consumption.
Scores of PDS consumers have expressed their outrage over the department’s failure to provide quality flour. They emphasize that PDS flour is a staple for most consumers in Jammu, and as such, the department must ensure its quality.
“As I ate the PDS flour, I was shocked to see its poor quality. When kneaded into dough and cooked into chapati, it breaks apart, proving its substandard nature,” said a consumer, who preferred to remain anonymous. “Given the poor quality of the flour, we have no choice but to mix it with fine-quality flour to make it edible. Earlier, the department ensured that the flour was not too poor in quality, but now it has deteriorated to an extent that it is almost inedible.”
Key Concerns Raised by Consumers
Several pertinent questions arise regarding the quality control of PDS flour:
1. Why is such poor-quality flour being distributed within city limits?
2. If city dwellers receive this quality, what about consumers in rural areas?
3. Who is responsible for monitoring the functioning of flour mills?
4. Does the department merely allocate wheat to millers without checking the grinding process?
5. Are officials responsible for mill inspections failing in their duties?
6. Are mills required to install CCTV cameras, and if so, is their footage monitored by the Directorate Office in Jammu?
7. Are there mandatory monthly checks on the mills, and if so, can the department make such orders public for transparency?
A retired director of the department, speaking anonymously, revealed that millers often deceive officials by displaying fine-quality flour, which is not actually PDS flour. “Millers do not provide the required quality. Instead, they grind leftover wheat remnants and distribute dark-colored flour, which is of poor quality and unfit for consumption,” he alleged.
Accountability and the Role of AD Mills
In recent years, the department has appointed JKAS officers as Assistant Directors (ADs) in various positions, including AD Mills, which was previously held by senior officials promoted internally. While this move is commendable, the retired director stressed that the AD Mills must actively monitor the functioning of mills. “The very purpose of this post is to ensure millers comply with quality standards,” he noted. “However, does the AD Mills truly understand milling norms and enforce them? That remains a critical question.”
Need for Consumer Awareness and Action
The department should issue public notices in local newspapers to inform consumers about lodging complaints regarding poor-quality flour. While a toll-free helpline exists, there is a dire need for awareness camps to educate consumers on how to identify substandard flour. “The department cannot justify poor quality by claiming that PDS flour is available at a low price. It must take immediate corrective measures or else consumers will be forced to buy flour from the open market at exorbitant rates,” he added.
Official Response
When contacted, Deputy Director (Rationing) Jammu, Ashraf Parvez, was asked about the poor quality of PDS flour. He inquired about the affected areas and was informed that Ramzanpura in the Janipur area was receiving substandard flour. He assured that he would take up the matter with the concerned AD. The issue of poor-quality PDS flour needs urgent attention from the authorities. Consumers demand strict monitoring of mills, transparency in quality checks, and accountability from officials responsible for ensuring food quality under the PDS system.
