Registered No. N. E. 930.

1 · Short Title and Commencement: (1) These rules may be called The Tripura Food Security Rules, 2016. (2) They shall come into force on tle date of their publication in the Tripura Gazette_

2 · Definitions: (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires_ (a) Act' means the National Food Security Act 2013 (20 of2013); (b) "Agent means & person duly authorized by & party t0 present any appeal or reply on its behalf before the appropriate authority; (c) "Appellant" mcans party which makes an appeal against the order of the District Grievance Redressal officer (DGRO); {d) Complaint" means and includes representation in writing Or through electronic means cortaining grievance alleging deticiency/shortcomings in the implementation ofthe Act; (e) Chairperson" means Chairperson of the State Food Commission established under sub- section ( 1) ofthe section 16 ofthe Act;

3 · Guidelines f r identification of priority households:

4 · Internal Grievance Redressal Mechanism: (1) There shall be an [nternal Grievance Redressal Mechanism in the Office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrates to be notified by the State Government for redressal of the grievances of the TPDS beneficiaries which shall function in the following manner: (a) Manner 0f Lodging Complaints: (i) The Sub Divisional Magistrate of the respective Sub Division shall act as Nodal officer for redressal of grievances of the cardholders at first place Any

5 · Qualification for appointment as District ( rievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) and its powers: (1) Any person who is or has been a member of the All India service Or any Civil Service of the state or holding a civil post under the Union or State having knowledge and experience in matters relating to food security, policy making and administration in the field of agriculture, civil supplies, nutrition, health or any allied field or any person of eminence in public life with knowledge and experience in agriculture, law, human rights, social service, management, nutrition, health, food policy or public administration or who have been proven record of work relating to the improvement of the food and nutrition rights of the poor shall be appointed and act as "District Grievance Redressal Officer" (DGRO) for any particular district or more than one districts under the Act, as decided by the State Govt. (2) Powers of DGRO: (i) The DGRO f the district under the Act, shall hear complaints, if referred to him by the Nodal Officer or directly lodged with him or lodged against any order of

8 · Filing of appeal before the State Food Commission (SFC): (1) Any complainant or the officer or authority against whom any order has been passed by DGRO, who is not satisfied with the redressal of grievance may file an appeal against such order before the State Food Commission within a period of 30 (thirty) days from the date of receipt ofthe order from the DGRO. (2) Memorandum shall be presented by the appellant or his agent to the State Food Commission in person or be sent by registered post or any electronic mode (if prescribed) addressed to the Commission: (3) Every memorandum filed under sub-rule (2) shall be legible handwriting preferably typed and shall set forth concisely under distinct heads, the grounds of appeal without any argument or narrative and such grounds shall be numbered consecutively. (4) Each memorandum shall be accompanied by the certified copy of the order of the District Redressal officer appealed against and such of the documents as may be required to support grounds of objection mentioned in the memorandum_ (5) The appellant shall submit four copies of the memorandum to the State Food Commission for official purpose. (6) On the date of hearing O any other day to which hearing may be adjourned, it shall be obligatory for the parties or their agents to appear before the State Food Commission. If appellant or his agent fails to appear on such date, the State Commission may in its discretion either dismiss the appeal or decide ex-parte on merits. If the respondent or his agent fails to appear on such date, the State Commission shall proceed ex-parte and shall decide the appeal on merits of the case_

9 · Method of appointment and the terms and conditions of appointment of Chairperson, other Members and Member secretary of the State Food Commission (SFC), procedure for meetings of the commission and its powers:

10 · Method of appointment of staff of the State Commission, their salaries, allowances and condition of service:

12 · Conduct of social audit on the functioning of F P Shops, TPDS and OWS: ( The State Government shall authorize the Sub Divisional Magistrates to engage all field functionaries not blow the rank of Tehashildar under his disposal or any independent body to perform the work f facilitation in the conduct of periodic social audits, as prescribed, o the functioning of fait rrice shops, TPDS and other welfare schemes (OWS) (2) A simple forn t/questionnaires shall be devised which will be provided to all participants of the concerned Gram Sabha/Nagar Sabha/ Ward Sabha, as the case may be, so that people can opine their views . (3) The respective field functionary shall collect dully field up format/ questionnaires from all the participants of the concerned Gram Sabha: (4) On the basis of all such field up format/ questionnaires; the respective field functionaries shall prepare & submit a consolidated Action Taken Report (ATR) to the Sub- Divisional Magistrate indicating special measure to be taken for betterment of functioning of fair price shops, TPDS and OWS, if= any: (5) SDMs, so authorised in this behalf, may also take recourse of any other manner to conduct social audit in respect of particular fair price shops when organising Gram Sabha could not be

13 · Setting up of Vigilance Committees: For ensuring transparency and proper functioning of the Targeted Public Distribution System and accountability of the functionaries in such system, there shall be Vigilance Committees to be set up by the State Government as specified in the Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2015 or any subsequent order made under the Essential Commodities Act; 1955 as amended from time to time; preferably at the State, District; Block and Fair price shop levels consisting of such persons, as prescribed. (2) The composition of such vigilance committees shall be such as may be notified andlor as amended by the State Government in the official gazette.

14 · Utilization of Institutional mechanism for other purposes: The State Government shall utilize the services of District Grievance Redressal Officers and State Food Commission in the matter of proper implementation of other schemes and programme of the Central Government or the State Government as may be notified by the State Government:

15 · Removal 0f doubts: If any doubt arises with regard to the interpretation of any provisions of these Rules; it shall be referred to the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer affairs department, Government of Tripura, whose decision shall be binding: