Paswan requests all States to complete pending PDS

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has said that the shift towards digital payments is as an immense opportunity as the same is in strategic alignment with the work being done by MoCAF&PD to improve the efficiency of procurement, storage and distribution of food-grains. He appreciated the adoption of National Food Security Act in all States/UTs and further requested all States/UT Governments to complete the pending PDS reforms by end of March 2017. It was stated by Shri Ram Vilas Paswan while inaugurating a National Conference of State Food Ministers and Secretaries of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs here today.

Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution also reviewed State-wise progress in implementation of Cashless PDS and End-to-End Computerisation.

Shri C.R. Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution stressed the need for time bound completion of targets under End-to-End Computerization and ensuring 100% digital payments, particularly in the wake of historic step taken by Hon’ble Prime Minister for de-monetization. He lauded the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for leading cashless reforms and becoming first State in the country to have introduced digital payments under PDS in a big way. He stressed on the need for timely completion of Aadhaar Seeding and FPS Automation so as to implement nation-wide portability in food-grains distribution.

In her address, Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution, said that one of the key considerations while integrating cashless modes is to ensure that no additional charges are levied and there are no administrative hassles for beneficiaries for the collection of foodgrains distributed through PDS. Since Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS) involves no additional transaction charges and is aligned with the objectives of Plan Scheme on ‘End to End Computerization of TPDS Operations’, she cited AePS to be the preferred mode of implementation for digital PDS transactions.

Shri Deepak Kumar (Joint Secretary, BP & PD) made a detailed presentation on the current status of PDS Computerization and Digital payments across the country. Keeping the pre-requisites for various cashless modes in consideration, he suggested to all the States/UT Governments to target the Metropolitan Cities, Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, District Headquarters and other urban areas on a priority basis. He also requested all States/UTs to coordinate with Lead Banks, CSCs and other local functionaries for organizing wide spread awareness campaigns for PDS beneficiaries.