SHIMLA, 10^th April 2026-A meeting of the Himachal Pradesh State Food Commission was held under the Chairmanship of Dr. S. P. Katyal, Hon’ble Chairman, at the Conference Hall of the Commission.

The meeting was attended by Smt. Chhavi Nanta (HPAS), Sh. Hitesh Azad (HPAS), Sh. Jeevan Singh (HPAS), Official Members, and Sh. Yogesh Chauhan (HPAS), Member Secretary.

At the outset, the Hon’ble Chairman welcomed the newly joined Members and highlighted the statutory mandate of the Commission under the National Food Security Act, 2013. He emphasized the crucial role of the Commission in ensuring effective implementation of food security programmes and safeguarding the entitlements of eligible beneficiaries in a transparent and efficient manner.

During the meeting, detailed deliberations were held on strengthening institutional coordination with departments concerned, enhancing engagement with district authorities, and improving monitoring and grievance redressal mechanisms. The Members expressed their commitment to actively contribute towards ensuring effective delivery of food security schemes in the State.

The Commission reviewed the ongoing activities and immediate priorities, including the status of complaints and grievances received from beneficiaries. Emphasis was laid on timely disposal of grievances, regular follow-up, and strengthening coordination with District Grievance Redressal Officers and other implementing authorities. The importance of obtaining periodic reports and maintaining proper documentation for effective monitoring was also highlighted.

Key issues relating to the implementation of food security measures were also discussed. The Commission reviewed the functioning of the Public Distribution System and other schemes, with particular focus on ensuring availability and quality of food grains, effective supervision at the field level, and prompt grievance redressal. The need for regular field inspections and direct interaction with beneficiaries was also emphasized.

With the permission of the Chair, additional matters relating to periodic review meetings, improved coordination with district authorities, stakeholder awareness regarding provisions of the Act, and strengthening reporting mechanisms were also discussed.