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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Chhattisgarh spurs PDS aim by Sudhir Kumar Mishra

Chhattisgarh spurs PDS aim by Sudhir Kumar Mishra

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published Published on Dec 16, 2010   modified Modified on Dec 16, 2010

Chief minister Arjun Munda is keen to replicate the efficiency of the public distribution system (PDS) in Chhattisgarh under fellow BJP leader Raman Singh, to ensure better delivery of foodgrains for Jharkhand’s below poverty line (BPL) families.

Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, Munda said food and civil supplies department principal secretary Rajbala Verma had recently visited Chhattisgarh to assess how the Raman Singh government had been smoothly doling out foodgrain to BPL families at Re 1 per kg, without relying heavily on scientific measures.

Although Munda did not elaborate on the exhaustive report on PDS operations in the neighbouring state submitted by Verma, he said Jharkhand cut a sorry figure in foodgrain distribution. Unlike in Chhattishgarh, foodgrain for the poor often did not reach beneficiaries in Jharkhand, with the stock also rotting in godowns, the chief minister said.

“Trucks loaded with foodgrain also went missing on many occasions,” he added.

To plug the loopholes “scientifically”, Munda is aiming to introduce biometric cards to ensure rations are distributed to deserving families. Several IT firms had also given presentations on biometric cards. Initially, biometric BPL cards with thumb impressions of individuals would be issued.

The chief minister pointed out that the government would rope in self-help groups to monitor PDS supplies, besides introducing a global positioning system (GPS) tracker of foodgrain-laden vehicles later on.

“Licensed distributors often work out of their homes and in the event of a dealer’s license being cancelled, people don’t know where to go. Hence, we will set up proper kiosks from where rations will be distributed,” said Munda.

Providing foodgrain to BPL families at Re 1 per kg and salt at 25 paise per kg was one of the prominent promises on BJP’s election manifesto for the Assembly elections last year.

At the start of his new tenure, Munda had resolved to provide 20kg rice at Re 1 per kg every month each to over 10.46 lakh poor families, whose names did not figure in the targeted BPL list. The scheme was formally launched on November 15 and would be terminated on March 31, next year.

According to chief secretary A.K. Singh, the scheme had been launched as a drought-relief measure. “We are getting adequate foodgrain from the Centre and deputy commissioners have been given funds to procure foodgrain on time,” he added.

Verma was given the maiden assignment of surveying the PDS functions in Chhattisgarh, after she was shifted from the home department to food and civil supplies during a reshuffle of senior officials.


The Telegraph, 10 December, 2010, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101210/jsp/jharkhand/story_13281545.jsp


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