Panaji (Goa)  The Local bodies like panchayats and municipalities will now conduct Social Audits of the fair price shops in their areas in order to ensure transparency in the implementation of Public Distribution System (PDS)  and proper functioning of fair price shops.

All the records of the fair price shops will be made available to the general public through social audit.

State Government on Friday notified the Goa Food Security (Grievance Redressal Mechanism, Transparency and Accountability) Rules, 2017.

The department of civil supplies has made it clear that as per the Rules, all records related to allotment, storage and distribution of ration commodities under PDS at fair price shops shall be placed at Gram Sabha held on August 15 and January 26, every year for social audit.

“The Social Audit shall also include eliciting views/grievances/suggestions from the public on the functioning of Fair Price Shops,” it said.

In rural areas, documents of intervening period shall be placed in Gram Sabha by the Fair Price Shop owner and Civil Supplies Inspector in-Charge of Taluka for social audit.

In urban areas, the urban local body shall hold meeting on the fixed date and conduct a social audit. Meeting at ward level shall be conducted at least once in six months for social audit.

After audit of documents by local bodies, the report along with recommendation shall be submitted to Taluka Level Vigilance Committee. After examination by Taluka Level Vigilance Committee, recommendation shall be forwarded to District Level Vigilance Committee for further necessary action.

After compiling the social audit report of the Fair Price Shops, necessary examination shall be made at the district level and the District Collector shall take further necessary action. Details of the action taken on the social audit report shall be forwarded to the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs