CITIZENS’ CHARTER

OUR VISION:

-      Provision of inputs in terms of inorganic and organic fertilizers with a view to  achieve sustainable growth in agriculture sector.

 -      Reasonable and optimum level of self sufficiency in domestic production of fertilizers.

 -      Promotion of judicious mix of chemical fertilizers usage in terms of availability and affordable prices of inputs.

 -      Easy availability of bio-fertilizer for extension of  organic farming in the country.

  OUR CLIENT:

-       Public Sector Undertakings, Multi-State Cooperative Societies and Private Companies in Fertilizer Sector.

-       Farmers and Citizens with grievances.     

OUR ACTIVITY:

 -      Medium and Long Term Fertilizer Policy.        

 -      Planning for fertilizer production domestically and imports of controlled fertilizer.

 -      Allocation and supply linkage for movement and distribution of urea to all the States in terms of assessment made by the          Department of Agriculture and Cooperation.

 -      Administration of financial concessions/support for controlled and decontrolled fertilizers including periodic revision in          retention price for urea, concession rate for decontrolled fertilizers; besides, costing and pricing of such fertilizers.

 -      Administration of the Fertilizers (Movement Control) Order, 1973.

 -      Planning, production and the usage of bio-fertilizer, micro-nutrient and organic manure/municipal waste in the country.

 -      Administrative responsibility of public enterprises and Cooperative Sector Undertakings of the fertilizer sector.

 OUR COMMITMENTS:

-       Strutctural reforms in the fertilizer sector including technological upgradation to make it efficient and price competitive by international standards within the broad framework of available feedstock and other raw materials.

-       Making available fertilizers to farmers at the door steps on affordable prices.

-        Promote balanced application of main fertilizer nutrients.

A.      CONTROLLED FERTILIZER : UREA

i.      Production

-      Urea is the only fertilizer which is under price, distribution & movement control through instrumentality of Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) & Fertilizer Movement (Control) Order under Essential Commodities Act (ECA).

-      Production and subsidy disbursement is regulated under Retention Price Scheme (RPS) administered by Fertilizer Industry Coordination Committee (FICC).

-      To make fertilizers available at affordable price throughout the country, a uniform  Maximum Retail Price (MRP) are fixed for farmers(exclusive of the central sales tax, the state tax and other local   taxes wherever levied).

-      Subsidised transportation under Equated Freight Scheme for equitable distribution throughout the country.

-      For North-Eastern States and Jammu & Kashmir, transportation cost of fertilizers is paid on actual basis under Special Freight Scheme.

-      The price of urea is notified by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.

-      Maximum Retail price of urea is currently Rs. 4830 per MT w.e.f. 28.2.2002.

ii.   Imports

-      The assessment of urea imports is made periodically by Steering Committee of Secretaries under the chairmanship of Secretary (Fertilizers).

iii.       Distribution and Movement

-      Urea supply from manufacturing units and ports is arranged by the Department of Fertilizers as per allocations given to urea companies and monitoring of availability is done as per demand as per demand assessed by the State on weekly / fortnightly basis through active interface with State Government under Essential Commodity Act (ECA).

-          Department of Agriculture & Cooperation

-          State Governments

-          Fertilizer Manufacturers

-          Handling Agents at Ports.

B.     DE-CONTROLLED FERTILIZERS

i.        Production, Imports & Distribution

-      No control on production & distribution.

-      Imports are decanalised.

-      There is no distribution control over decontrolled N&P fertilizers.  However, from North-East, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and hilly areas of Uttranchal and West Bengal, transportation cost ex rail-head to various destinations is being reimbursed under Special Freight Scheme.

ii.      Pricing and Concession

-      To cushion  the impact of decontrol on the prices, the Government introduced a scheme of concession sales of these decontrolled fertilizer.  The Department of Fertilizers  has been administering concession scheme w.e.f. October, 2000.

-      Indicative MRPs and Concession rates are fixed by government of India from time to time.  For example, MRPs of decontrolled P&K fertilizers effective 28.2.2002 are:

                                                            MRP(Rs.)      

            Indigenous DAP                          9350              

            Imported DAP                             9350         

            MOP                                           4455              

            Complexes                                 6980-9080             

      In case of Single Super Phosphate (SSP), MRPs are fixed by respective State Governments.     

C.  OUR INVESTMENT/ INCENTIVES

      To encourage investment in the fertilizer sector, the following concessions are available:

-      No license is required for setting up/expansion of fertilizer plants.  Entrepreneurs are free to set up/expand fertilizer projects anywhere in the country subject to environmental clearance.

-      Concessional customs duty benefit on import of capital goods for setting up of new plants/substantial expansion/renovation/modernisation of existing units.

-      Deemed export benefits to indigenous supplies of capital goods to new/revamped/retrofit/modernisation of fertilizer projects.

GRIEVANCES REDRESSAL MECHANISM:

            This Department is committed and ever alert  to redress grievances in a responsible and effective manner. The silent measures are:

-      A Grievances Cell has been set up in the office of Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister for (Chemicals & Fertilizers and Steel) for any complaints / suggestions relating to availability, quality, price etc. of fertilizers. The Citizens are free to lodge complaint / suggestion at toll free help line No. 1600-114400.

-      Joint Secretary (Administration) functions as Joint Secretary (Public Grievances) in order to ensure expeditious redressal of grievances.  On every Wednesday between 10.00 A.M. and 1.00 P.M., the public can meet the Grievance Officer with regard to their grievances and complaints (Tele No.. 2338481, Room No. 111-B Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi).

GENERAL

-      The Citizens’ Charter will be reviewed annually for further improving our response to the public.

-      The information with regard to our programmes and activities  can be accessed in our website. (Address: http://fert.nic.in)

-      The information is also provided through publications which are available through the Information and Facilitation Centre., Near Gate No. 3 Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi (Tele No. 23384317). The Counter open from 9 : 00 A.M. to 5 : 30 P.M from Monday to Friday.

RIGHT OF THE PUBLIC

            Specifications about quality control for all the fertilizers are provided under Schedule I, Part-A of Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 which can be accessed from website www.agricoop.nic.in/sublegifert.htm.In case of complaints regarding substandard sale of fertilizers and sale of fertilizers at higher price than MRP or inadequate availability any other violation of provisions of Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 any citizen can approach local office of Agriculture Department/Directorate of Agriculture or District Administration for redressing the same.  All the citizens have the right to approach the office of Joint Secretary (A&M), Department of Fertilizers for registering such complaints.

CONTACT POINTS:

-      The address and phone numbers of the contact points are as under:

1.      Joint Secretary (A&M)

        111-B, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi-110001

        Tel: 3388481(O). E-mail:

2.       Grievance Cell, Office of the Minister (Chemicals & Fertilizers),

           Room No. 308-B, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi

Help Line No. 1600-114400,Fax No. 23388321