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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Maharashtra moots PDS at the door-step by Rahul Wadke

Maharashtra moots PDS at the door-step by Rahul Wadke

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published Published on Dec 23, 2010   modified Modified on Dec 23, 2010

Large queues outside the ration shop across Maharashtra could become a thing of the past, if the State Government manages to implement a new scheme for distributing foodgrains in the vicinity of people's houses.

Under the scheme, the two-and-a-half crore ration card holders registered under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the State, instead of getting a monthly quota of grains from the ration shop, will get three, six or 12 months' quota in a single transaction near their houses.

The scheme is expected to be soon sent for Cabinet approval, a senior officer in the State Government told Business Line. A pilot scheme has already been successfully implemented in Nashik district. The scheme is an attempt to prevent massive leakage of foodgrains from the PDS. Foodgrains for the poor get routinely diverted to the open market, the official said.

Supply logistics

Depending on their requirement, card-holders can make an advance payment to the supply-officer in urban areas and the revenue-officer in villages, after which the grains would be distributed openly, at a public location.

“When the beneficiaries come to the shop, the owner at times asks them to come at a later date and if they nag about short supply then he insults them. In the new scheme, since the distribution would be done in a public place, people will have an upper hand and the shop owner will merely distribute the grains,” the official said.

Traditionally, people have been storing grains in various types of local storage vessels. Therefore, storage of foodgrains for at least six months is not a big problem for the ration card holders. This decentralised system of storage of foodgrains in thousands of households would ultimately bring about food security to the people, the official added.

Food security

In addition to the food subsidy programme, the Government is spending huge amounts in tribal areas separately to fight malnutrition . The new scheme looks to target problems of malnutrition and under-nourishment as well. Foodgrains supply for three to six months will give sufficient food security to the poorest families, the official observed.

The official explained that the purchase of foodgrains from Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouses and the transportation arrangements to the State warehouses will remain the same. But foodgrains from local warehouse will not be taken to the ration shop, instead they will directly go to the public distribution site. Since the distribution will be on a quarterly basis, the State Government hopes to save about 15 per cent on transport and logistics, he said.

The Hindu Business Line, 23 December, 2010, http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/12/24/stories/2010122453290400.htm


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