3.1 The main activities of the Department of Fertilizers include sectoral planning, promotion and development of the fertilizer industry, planning and monitoring of production, import and distribution of fertilizers and management of subsidy for indigenous and imported fertilizers. A list of the subjects allocated to the Department of Fertilizers is given in Annexure-I.

3.2 The work of the Department is broadly divided into four Divisions dealing with (i) Fertilizer Projects and Planning; (ii) Fertilizer Import, Movement and Distribution; (iii) Administration, and (iv) Finance & Accounts. The work of these Divisions is handled by three Joint Secretaries. The Joint Secretary in charge of Administration Division, also looks after the work of Fertilizer Import, Movement and Distribution. As Director of Grievances, he attends to the grievances of the public and the employees of the Department. The Joint Secretary in charge of Fertilizer Projects and Planning also functions as the Chief Vigilance officer of the Department. The Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser in charge of Finance and Accounts is also the Financial Adviser of the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals. For advice on technical matters relating to the fertilizer industry, there is a post of Adviser of the rank of Joint Secretary.

FERTILIZER INDUSTRY COORDINATION COMMITTEE

3.3 The office of Fertilizer Industry Coordination Committee (FICC) is an attached office under the Department of Fertilizers. Headed by an Executive Director of the rank of Joint Secretary, the office of FICC deals mainly with unit-wise fixation and revision of retention prices of fertilizers, fixation of equated freight, cost studies of fertilizer units and payment of subsidy to them.

PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKINGS AND COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES

3.4 The Department has under its administrative control nine public sector undertakings and two multi-state cooperative societies. A list of these undertakings is given in Annexure-II.