Foodgrains worth 10,000 cr better targeted with computerisation of PDS

In order to make PDS system totally transparent, the Government is implementing End-to-end Computerisation of TPDS Operations. As a result a large number of bogus ration cards have been eliminated by the States during last two years which has enabled better targeting of about Rs.10, 000 crores’ foodgrains. This was stated by Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution while addressing members of Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry .

Shri Paswan said centre is continuously perusing State Governments to make PDS modern and consumer friendly, a project with the cost of Rs. 884 crore has been taken up for computerization. Significant achievements have been made so far. Ration cards have been completely digitised in allStates and card details are available on transparency portal of all States; Online Allocation of foodgrains to ration dealers is being made in 25 States. Supply-Chain has been computerized in 12States/UTs and online grievance redressal facility or toll-free helpline have been started in allStates/UTs. The Minister said that States have also been requested to seed Aadhaar numbers in Ration Card database. At present overall seeding stands at 54.79% at the national level.

The minister said that for checking of leakage and diversions, the Center is also pursuing with States/UTs to automate Fair Price Shops by stalling biometric devices. So far, more than 1, 11,772 FPSs have been automated across the country, and this count is likely to be increased to 3, 06,526 FPSs by March, 2017, he added.

Participating in the discussion, Members of Parliament said that grievance redressal system should be strengthened, elected representatives should also be given due representation in the district level committees to monitor PDS. The meeting was attended by S/Shri Raju Alias Devappa Anna Shetty, Shri Ram Prasad Sarmah, Shri Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Shri Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Shri Bhupinder Singh all Members of Parliament.