PDS consumers can soon have choice to buy goods or get cash

The suggestions are part of the report of the task force on 'IT strategy for the PDS' submitted to the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee

PTI | November 3, 2011



PDS consumers will soon have a choice to either get subsidised goods from their preferred locations or receive cash, with the government accepting in principle suggestions of the Nandan Nilekani-headed task force on revamping the Public Distribution System.

These suggestions form a part of the report of the task force on 'IT strategy for the PDS' submitted to the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday.

After presenting the report to Mukherjee, UIDAI Chairman Nilekani said the government has in principle accepted the report of the task force and "it (government) will now process the report and take appropriate action".

While suggesting a two-phase strategy to revamp the PDS network, the task force said it is desirable the beneficiaries are provided choice of location and mix of commodities and quantities. They can also opt for direct cash subsidy.

Under the current system, a consumer can only buy goods from an assigned ration shop in set quantities.

There are about 4.62 lakh fair price shops (FPS) which distribute commodities, like wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene, worth over Rs 30,000 crore every year to 18 crore families.

To check pilferages in the PDS, the task force has suggested extensive use of IT platform and Aadhar-based bank accounts for providing subsidised food or cash transfers.

Recommending an institutional mechanism for end-to-end computerisation of PDS, the task force has also suggested creation of a National Information Utility or Public Distribution System Network (PSDN) by April 2012 and initiation of pilot projects by December 2012.

Comments

 

Other News

Income Tax dept holds Ghatkopar Outreach on new IT Act

The Income Tax Department organised an outreach programme in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, to raise awareness about the key features of the Income Tax Act, 2025, effective April 1, 2026. The initiative is part of a nationwide effort to promote taxpayer awareness, simplify compliance, and strengthen a transparent, eff

Making AI work where governance is closest to people

India’s next governance leap may not solely come from digitisation. It will come from making public systems more intelligent, more adaptive, and more responsive to the dynamics at the grassroots. That opportunity is especially significant at the panchayat level, where governance is not an abstract po

Borrowing troubles: How small loans are quietly trapping youth

A silent crisis is playing out in the pocket of young India, not in stock markets or government treasuries, but in smartphones of college students and first-jobbers who clicked on the Apply Now button without reading the small print.  A decade ago, to take a loan, you had to do some paperwor

A 19th-century pilgrim’s progress

The Travels of a Sadhu in the Himalayas By Jaladhar Sen (Translated by Somdatta Mandal) Speaking Tiger Books, 259 pages, ₹499.00  

India faces critical shortage of skin donors amid rising burn cases

India reports nearly 70 lakh burn injury cases every year, resulting in approximately 1.4 lakh deaths annually. Experts estimate that up to 50% of these lives could be saved with adequate access to skin donations.   A significant concern is that around 70% of burn victims fall wi

Not just politics, let`s discuss policies too

Why public policy matters Most days, India`s loudest debates stop at the ballot box. We can name every major leader and recall every campaign slogan. Still, far fewer of us can explain why a widow`s pension is delayed or how a government school`s budget is actually approved. That


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter