Problems with PDS foodgrain distribution serious: Pawar

Agencies
Posted: Friday, Jul 10, 2009 at 1612 hrs IST
Updated: Friday, Jul 10, 2009 at 1612 hrs IST

Font Size

Feedback

Discuss

New commodity exchange ICEX to go live on Nov 27 India may import 6-mt sugar this year Work stalled in western UP sugar mills Select edible oils up on retailers buying

New Delhi: Government accepted in Parliament that there have been problems in distribution of foodgrains under the public distribution system (PDS) and the situation is still ‘serious’ though there has been some improvement.

"There are some problems in distribution of foodgrains under the PDS. A committee appointed by the Government and another by the Supreme Court observed flaws in the system. I have conducted many reviews and though there is some improvement, the situation is still serious," Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said in the Rajya Sabha.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, he expressed dissatisfaction over efforts made by states to curb distribution of bogus ration cards.

"I have requested state Governments to run campaigns to eliminate bogus ration cards. Work is on but I am not satisfied with the progress. Though as per the Planning Commission, there are 6.5 crore BPL families, states have allotted 10 crore ration cards to them," he said.

To another supplementary, Pawar said his ministry was having discussions with stakeholders on the parameters of the proposed National Food Security Act.

"Under the proposed law, every BPL family will get 25 kg of foodgrains per month," he said adding that the ministry was getting a lot of suggestions from several states on the proposed measure.

Discuss this story on expressindia forums

Post Comments

Comments: (Limit 3,000 characters)

Name		Message
Email ID
Subject

TERMS OF USE:
The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).

I agree to the terms of use.

Comments

» Frank admission is O.K. but it is a serious matter.

Posted by SC Aggarwal on 2009-07-11 10:52:55.728079+05:30
Thanks God, now a days Ministers have started admitting that there are serious problems in the country. For example, Sharad Pawar, agriultural minister admits problems in PDS foodgrain distribution is serious, Mr. Namo Narain Meena (MOS, Finance) admits controlling fiscal deficit is serious, Kamal Nath's admission about problems in road construction, Mr.CP Joshi's admission that NREGA programmes are not delivering very well etc. etc. Let us hope Ministers' frank admission will make them to spend sleepless nights. However, so far as problems in PDS foodgrain distribution are concerned Shri Sharad Pawar should study the system adopted by Chhatisgarh, Gujarat and other BJP ruled Stats. It is said that monitoring of this programme is extremely good. Further, there should be monitoring by each and every MP at least in a few villages to which they belong and report to the Minister what needs to be done?

Reply Forward

» Problems with PDS foodgrain distribution serious- Pawar

Posted by Premangsu Chowdry on 2009-07-11 10:43:55.162506+05:30
A typical example of our obfuscation with present problems to be able to see beyond our nose; forwrd planning has not been one of our strong points. One seems to remember many years ago when the Late NP(Potla) Sen, ex-Chairman Wazir Sultan, ex Principal Administrative Staff College, and later Secretary General Commonwealth House, London, was specially brought to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture by the Late Mrs Indira Gandhi to successfully sort out almost an identical problema. We have forgotten the lessons learnt, and we are back to square one.May the Government find another leader in the Industries to plan and implement a PDS system, and keep it going.

Reply Forward

» A concerned citizen

Posted by Roshan Lal on 2009-07-10 20:21:28.421338+05:30
Our Hon Agriculture mantriji remains busy in Cricket affairs more than being concerned about functioning of his ministry.That is the reason during his previous tenure as Agriculture Minister there was a reported bungling in buying imported foodgrains at a great cost but was totally rotten and dumped in same condition in warehouses of FCI.The condition of foodgrain when shown on TV channel was so horrible that even animals would have refused to eat it.

Reply Forward

Latest News

Print Edition

Events

Problems with PDS foodgrain distribution serious: Pawar

Post Comments