Sanjeeb Mukherjee / New Delhi May 3, 2011, 0:23 IST
A working group on food and public distribution, headed by Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, is likely to recommend distribution of foodgrain under the public distribution system (PDS) to each entitled individual rather than the entire family.
At present, subsidised foodgrains under the public distribution system is distributed to families below and above poverty lines, irrespective of the number of members in those families. This, experts believe, sometimes leads to distorted allocations, as sizes of families vary.
However, if new proposals, likely to come from the group are adopted then grain would be distributed on the basis of individual headcount and not on the basis of identified families.
“The shift to per capita entitlement will be a progressive step, since the National Sample Survey (NSS) data show that lower income households have more members per family than higher income,” a draft report of the working group, chaired by the Planning Commission deputy chairman, said.
It also added that by specifying the headcount, states will have more flexibility in extending benefits in accordance with actual ground conditions and will also enable faster adoption of benefits of the unique identification number (UID).
In April last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had constituted three working groups on agriculture, food and public distribution and consumer affairs after a meeting with chief ministers. The meeting, held against the backdrop of spiralling food prices, resolved to explore permanent measures to bring down food inflation.
The group on agriculture was chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, while that on consumer affairs was headed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The third group, under the chairmanship of Ahluwalia, is looking into aspects like PDS reforms, strorage and waste minimisation.
The working groups headed by Hooda and Modi have already given their reports to the government.
Officials said the Ahluwalia-chaired panel was also expected to recommend allotment of fair price shops to institutions and groups, sale of non-PDS items through ration shops and proper monitoring and check of fair price shops.
“Measures should be taken by all states and union territories to ensure that the quota of grains for a particular month is available with each ration shop by the end of the previous month for timely distribution to beneficiaries,” officials said.
Items like consumer goods and services could also be considered for distribution through the fair price shops.
Officials said the panel headed by Ahluwalia was also expected to forcefully advocate nationwide adoption of a computerised system of tracking transportation and distribution of PDS items.
“The computerisation of PDS should also move towards synchronisation with the UID system and aadhaar numbers,” officials said.
The group is also expected to recommend distribution of foodgrains through next-gen smart cards which will enable transfer of subsidy directly to beneficiary, so that he can buy any commodity like wheat, rice, eggs, meat and pulses from any fair price shop or designated retail outlets.
The group is likely to suggest directing the task force under UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani to recommend ways to effectively distribute grains and food subsidy.
At present, various studies show 30-40 per cent of the foodgrain allocated for distribution through PDS never reaches the targeted population.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, along with the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council chairman C Rangarajan, are the other members of the working group.
It also added that by specifying the headcount, states will have more flexibility in extending benefits in accordance with actual ground conditions and will also enable faster adoption of benefits of the unique identification number (UID).
In April last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had constituted three working groups on agriculture, food and public distribution and consumer affairs after a meeting with chief ministers. The meeting, held against the backdrop of spiralling food prices, resolved to explore permanent measures to bring down food inflation.
The group on agriculture was chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, while that on consumer affairs was headed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The third group, under the chairmanship of Ahluwalia, is looking into aspects like PDS reforms, strorage and waste minimisation.
The working groups headed by Hooda and Modi have already given their reports to the government.
Officials said the Ahluwalia-chaired panel was also expected to recommend allotment of fair price shops to institutions and groups, sale of non-PDS items through ration shops and proper monitoring and check of fair price shops.
“Measures should be taken by all states and union territories to ensure that the quota of grains for a particular month is available with each ration shop by the end of the previous month for timely distribution to beneficiaries,” officials said.
Items like consumer goods and services could also be considered for distribution through the fair price shops.
Officials said the panel headed by Ahluwalia was also expected to forcefully advocate nationwide adoption of a computerised system of tracking transportation and distribution of PDS items.
“The computerisation of PDS should also move towards synchronisation with the UID system and aadhaar numbers,” officials said.
The group is also expected to recommend distribution of foodgrains through next-gen smart cards which will enable transfer of subsidy directly to beneficiary, so that he can buy any commodity like wheat, rice, eggs, meat and pulses from any fair price shop or designated retail outlets.
The group is likely to suggest directing the task force under UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani to recommend ways to effectively distribute grains and food subsidy.
At present, various studies show 30-40 per cent of the foodgrain allocated for distribution through PDS never reaches the targeted population.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, along with the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council chairman C Rangarajan, are the other members of the working group.
