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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Food min moves SC to prod Plan Panel, 2 Cong-led govts by Nitin Sethi

Food min moves SC to prod Plan Panel, 2 Cong-led govts by Nitin Sethi

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published Published on Feb 6, 2012   modified Modified on Feb 6, 2012

In an extraordinary effort at resolving policy disputes, the Union food ministry pleaded before the Supreme Court on Thursday to order the Planning Commission to release funds for reforms in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and to order the rural development ministry to provide details of how many people in the category of poorest of poor had been left out of PDS. 

In its affidavit filed in court, the ministry also accused the Congress-led governments in Haryana and Maharashtra of holding up progress in PDS reforms and continuing to provide subsidized grains to bogus beneficiaries. It urged the court to summon the chief secretaries of the two states to answer questions. It pleaded that the apex court also get other chief secretaries to fall in line. 

The affidavit was filed in the right to food case where the apex court is pursuing full computerization of the PDS as part of the reforms. The food ministry’s request is unique in that it asks the court to order other arms of the central government to do its bidding. 

SOS FOR PDS 

Food ministry wants Planning Commission to release funds for computerization of PDS 
 
Rural development ministry must list eligible people left out of PDS net 

Maha govt to explain why ration cards aren’t digitized; Haryana must explain why smart cards haven’t taken off ‘Maha, Haryana lax on PDS reforms’ 

New Delhi: The Union food ministry’s affidavit in the Supreme Court on PDS reforms showed its inability to get the court directions implemented from either central ministries and institutions or the state governments. 

For the Planning Commission, the ministry said, “The court directs the Planning Commission to provide immediate financial assistance as requested by the department of food and public distribution for computerization of PDS in the country.” 

For the RD ministry, it said, “The ministry of rural development is also directed to provide the number of such eligible persons over and above the existing beneficiaries of the (Annapurna Antyoday Yojna) at the earliest to enable department of food and public distribution to allocate foodgrain on recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission on PDS.” 

Pulling up the Congressled government in Maharashtra, the ministry said, “Chief secretary, governmentof Maharashtra, may be directed to file affidavit/appear in court to explain why proper steps have not been taken to digitize ration cards in the state.” It said the Wadhwa committee (of the apex court) had found during a visit that “digitization of ration cards is nothing but sham”. 

The ministry had scathing comments on Haryana too. “Almost two years ago, the central government provided funds to the state of Haryana and UT of Chandigarh for introduction of smart cards there. However, till date, there is no progress there.” The ministry pleaded that the apex court ask the chief secretary of the state to file an affidavit or appear in court to explain its position. 

Evidently unable to get anything done through the multiple ministries involved, the food ministry asked the court to give directions to National Informatics Centre on how to start the computerization process. It also pleaded that the court order all state chief secretaries to explain why they did not lift foodgrain provided by the Centre and why they had not eliminated bogus cards in their respective states so far.

The Times of India, 4 February, 2012, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=CAP/2012/02/04&PageLabel=3&Entit


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