Shimla
29 January 2026
The State Food Commission has taken cognizance of the disruption in Public Distribution System (PDS) services caused by recent heavy snowfall across several parts of the State. The snowfall has led to prolonged power outages and loss of internet connectivity, severely affecting the functioning of Point of Sale (PoS) machines at Fair Price Shops (FPS).
Chairman of the State Food Commission, Dr. S. P. Katyal, informed that adequate ration stocks have already been ensured at all FPS, including those located in tribal and snow-bound areas. He added that beneficiaries in tribal regions have been allowed to lift their ration entitlement in advance, up to the month of March. However, in areas where ration distribution is carried out on a monthly basis, the prevailing weather conditions have created serious operational hurdles.
To prevent any hardship to beneficiaries, the Commission has recommended the activation of the Backlog Distribution Option in the affected regions. This measure aims to ensure that eligible households continue to receive their entitled ration despite technical and logistical challenges.
The Commission has also directed all district authorities to immediately identify and report areas facing power and connectivity issues, along with the current status of ration distribution. Instructions have been issued for prompt activation of the backlog option wherever required, ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential food grains.
The State Food Commission stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and remains fully committed to safeguarding food security, particularly during this period of extreme weather conditions.
