-The Hindu Many States have initiated ‘reforms’ of the public distribution system that are hurting millions of people India’s public distribution system (PDS) is in danger of being derailed in several States across the country. Recent disruptions of the PDS have taken different forms, from compulsory biometric authentication to so-called direct benefit transfer (DBT). The consequences are alarming, but tend to go unreported. Biometric mix-ups Jharkhand is a prime example of this problem. By...
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Media bully backs off
-The Telegraph New Delhi: The Aadhaar issuer, which had lodged a police complaint against The Tribune newspaper and its reporter Rachna Khaira for a report on the sale of Aadhaar data, appeared to backtrack on Monday after a tweet by its minister. On January 4, the newspaper had published a report saying racketeers were selling access to Aadhaar data for Rs 500, which would enable buyers to open Fake bank accounts or...
More »Poll bond transparency test: Govt finalises terms for donation process
-The Telegraph New Delhi: A company that has been in operation for less than three years will be able to donate money to a political party through electoral bonds, according to the terms finalised by the Centre on Tuesday. But a party that could not secure 1 per cent of the vote in the previous election will not be eligible for the electoral bonds. This could pose a funding challenge for new...
More »How PDS can be made effective through better governance -Anjani Kumar and Seema Bathla
-The Financial Express The Odisha experience shows that PDS can play a pivotal role in bringing convergence and making India’s two important missions—food and nutrition security—successful in a short time. New Delhi: India’s public distribution system (PDS) is the largest food security programme in the world, which covers nearly 60% of the population and costs Rs 1.45 trillion—close to 1.4% of the national income. PDS has often been criticised for its structure,...
More »30 lakh Fake 'beti bachao' forms flood women and child development ministry -Ambika Pandit
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The ministry of women and child development is grappling with a fraud being perpetuated on the poor on a very large scale: people are selling them Fake "application forms" for the Centre's flagship "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" scheme — the ministry has received nearly 30 lakh Fake forms this year — on the promise that just filling the forms will make them eligible for a...
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