Though India is an agrarian economy, lakhs of rural poor starve as tonnes of foodgrains rot in government godowns, due to our inefficient Public Distribution System (PDS). A scheme that can streamline this allows for direct-to-home bulk distribution to consumers, writes SHASHWAT GUPTA RAY.

A pilot programme, which proposes that beneficiaries of the PDS will get full quota of foodgrains periodically directly at their doorstep - Home Delivery of Foodgrains, is being implemented in Pune district.

The beneficiaries would have to pay a subsidised sum for the foodgrains, thus making them in people's reach directly, instead of rotting in government godowns. “With this, the actual need of consumers is taken into account and ration card-holders are asked to make payment in advance. Consumers are asked to be ready with the money to pay for the required amount of foodgrains,” District Supply Officer Ravi Kulkarni told 'Sakal Times'.

On a date decided by the administration, the amount is collected from consumers by the Supply Officer / Village Talathi in advance. This amount collected for the entire village is deposited in the government treasury under the proper account head. “Grains are distributed to the ration card-holders before the Gramsabha in the form of standardised sacks of 50 kg each. Instead of the prevailing system of distribution through Fair Price Shops (FPS) followed by occasional inspection by Supply Officers, the scheme ensures a transparent distribution system in front of the village community,” Kulkarni added.

Between May and July, the district administration has covered 198 villages, and it expects to target another 75 villages by the end of August.

Brainchild of former Additional Collector Nashik, Shekhar Gaikwad, this scheme was started there in April 2007, with 322 villages covered under it. “In Nashik district, the scheme has been implemented in more than 200 tribal villages, where it is observed that the entire control of foodgrains shifted from the male head to womenfolk after introducing this one-time food delivery scheme,” said Gaikwad, currently posted as Additional Collector and Registrar, Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA).

He added that while the scheme has been initiated for rural poor, it can be implemented for the urban poor too, as people living in slums have better purchasing power.

PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN INDIA

- PDS is the largest food subsidy programme in India, and perhaps world, reaching out to nearly 10.5 crore households for foodgrains subsidy through a network of Fair Price Shops (FPS).

- Planning Commission evaluation shows 28 per cent subsidised foodgrains do not reach BPL (below poverty line) families, 22 per cent reaches Above Poverty Line (APL) and 36 per cent is sold in black. For Re 1 worth income transfer to poor, GoI spends Rs 3.65, making the subsidy worth only 27 paise.

SCHEME BENEFITS

- One-time distribution: Foodgrains are distributed once in three or six months or a year.

- Monitoring: Independent agencies, NGOs can verify whether the grains are properly utilised.

- Sustainable scheme: Delivery of foodgrains in a transparent manner, at lesser cost

- Family control: The new scheme is more pro-family.