Mini Joseph Tejaswi | TNN
Bangalore: The cleaning up of the Public Distribution System (PDS) seems to be bringing substantial dividends to the Karnataka government.
Bangalore: The cleaning up of the Public Distribution System (PDS) seems to be bringing substantial dividends to the Karnataka government.
The state has already weeded out 20 lakh fake or duplicate ration cards from the total base of 110 lakh. In October, 1.6 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) families were distributed ration through the PDS, but after the operation the number of cards got reduced to 86 lakh in November. That’s a net subsidy saving of Rs 45 crore a month for the state exchequer.
State commissioner for food and civil supplies H R Srinivas told TOI: “About 10 lakh families were holding both APL and BPL cards. There was large-scale hoarding of illegal ration cards with fair price dealers.’’
The operation is expected to streamline the functioning of 46,412 fair price shops across the state and entire system, including distribution channel and transport network.
The distribution of digitised ration cards to 90 lakh APL & BPL (Above and Below Poverty Line) families in Karnataka will be completed by December 31. The state has already distributed 20 lakh cards across Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu while the process has just commenced in Shimoga and Chikmagalur districts.
The key objective of introducing such cards is to eradicate deep-rooted corruption in the PDS and also expected to end the existing practice of pawning and pledging ration cards, a common practice among BPL families.
It will also help stop the siphoning and pilferage (estimated at Rs 1,000 crore a year) of foodgrains and petroleum products. Srinivas said, “It’s quite an uphill task to fight internal systems, black marketeers, wholesale mafia, logistic agents and other bigwigs involved in this racket.
Many people with vested interest want the corrupt PDS to continue. So, it’s a really big crusade.’’
Comat Technologies, a third-party executor of the project for the government, said that after the distribution of digital ration cards the company will set up help centres in every taluk for card holders to clear their doubts and get assistance.