Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Govt to Sell Pulses, Cooking Oil at Cheaper Rate Via PDS

Govt to Sell Pulses, Cooking Oil at Cheaper Rate Via PDS

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Oct 5, 2012   modified Modified on Oct 5, 2012
-Outlook

To protect BPL families from possible price rise, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for selling imported pulses and edible oil at subsidised rates through ration shops.

The CCEA also approved an outlay of Rs 884 crore for computerisation of public distribution system (PDS) that is aimed at, among other things, elimination of bogus ration cards.

Announcing the decisions, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, "The CCEA today gave its approval for introducing a variant of the earlier scheme for subsidised distribution of imported pulses through PDS with a subsidy of Rs 20 per kg."

The scheme on pulses, which was discontinued in June, will be relaunched for six months till March 31, 2013. Four lakh tonnes of imported pulses would be supplied at a higher subsidy.

In the earlier scheme, 6.52 crore BPL families were supplied pulses at a subsidy of Rs 10 per kg.

Similarly, the government has approved extension of a scheme for supply of 10 lakh tonnes of imported edible oil via PDS for one more year till September 30, 2012 at a subsidy of Rs 15 per kg.

The schemes on pulses and edible oil are aimed at protecting BPL (Below Poverty Line) families as retail prices of these two commodities are expected to be under pressure in the wake of a possible fall in production.

The CCEA also decided to continue the ban on export of edible oil as domestic availability would be lower this year because of poor monsoon.

However, it permitted export of edible oil in branded packs of up to 5 kg with a quantitative restriction of up to 20,000 per annum with effect from this month.

On the 12th Five Year Plan scheme on 'End-to-end computerisation of PDS, Chidambaram said, "The CCEA approved the component-I of the plan scheme with an outlay of Rs 884 crore on a cost sharing basis."

The Centre and state will bear the cost equally barring north eastern states, where Central government will fund 90 per cent of the cost, he said.

"Shares of government of India and state government/union territories are estimated at Rs 489.37 crore and Rs 394.7 crore, respectively," he added.

The outlay has been provided for digitization of ration cards/ beneficiary and other databases, computerisation of supply-chain management, setting up of transparency portal and grievance redressal mechanisms.

The digitisation of beneficiary database and computerisation of supply-chain are expected to be implemented by March, 2013 and October, 2013 respectively, an official statement said.

"Digitisation of database of beneficiaries will help in weeding out bogus ration cards and better targeting of subsidies," it added.

With computerisation of the supply-chain, the movement of foodgrains up to Fair Price Shop (FPS) level, can be tracked and the problem of leakage and diversion can be addressed.

Facilities of SMSs, e-mails, toll free numbers will be used to inform the beneficiary about the availability of PDS supplies in the ration shops. This will ensure timely and transparent distribution of foodgrains to beneficiaries as per their entitlement.

The transparency portal and social audit would further strengthen the functioning of ration shops. Beneficiaries will also be able to register their grievances through toll free numbers and seek resolution, it added.

Outlook, 4 October, 2012, http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=777278


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close