Obituaries for the PDS system are a bit premature, based as they are on outdated data and presumptions. Despite flaws like pilfering and leakages, the system shows signs of improvement in certain states. States have demonstrated the political will to invest in the PDS, by putting in state resources to make it work. Cash transfers (CTs) are increasingly advocated as an alternative to the Public Distribution System (PDS). The proponents of...

The World Bank and a pliant UPA Government plan to do away with India's Public Distribution System and shut down four lakh ration shops. The excuse-the Public Distribution System (PDS) spends Rs 45,000 crore every year to supply BPL families wheat, rice, kerosene and sugar of which 60 per cent of grain is looted by the food mafia. The 412page 'World Bank Report: Social Protection for Changing India', released on...

The Government proposal to make cash transfer in place of food grain to poor families has drawn mixed reactions. Raghuvir Nagar on the western outskirts of Delhi has of late turned into a turf for a war between two schools of thought. The war has not been limited to campaigns and debates and purportedly escalated to the level of allegations, even intimidation, so much so that the Government of the national...

* It requires altering the distribution pattern * Permission from Centre needed for procuring additional quantum Implementation of the government decision to enhance the quantity of rice distributed through Public Distribution System outlets may be delayed as altering the distribution pattern followed by the previous administration and meeting the requirement as announced by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy is an arduous task. Immediately after Mr Rangasamy took charge as the Chief Minister on May...

In a bid to smoothen the distribution of foodgrain across the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved the developing of a National Foodgrain Movement Plan that will tie up with the UPA government’s ambitious food security law, sources said. To be implemented by the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution, in collaboration with Indian Railways, the plan was recently discussed between the PM and MoS, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public...