PDS to get digitised will help check corruption

BANGALORE, INDIA: In order to make the Public Distribution System more effective, the Government of India has decided to implement end-to-end computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). The digitization of the TPDS will facilitate to eliminate bogus ration cards and help in better targeting of subsidies.

Under the plan, the database of ration cards beneficiaries will be digitized and the entire supply chain management will be computerized. Under the plan, a transparency portal and grievance redressal mechanism will also be established.

Digitization of beneficiary databases is expected to be implemented by March 2013 and the supply chain management will be computerised by October 2013. Through the computerisation of supply chain management, the status of the movement of food grains upto Fair Price Shops (FPSs) can be tracked and the problem pertaining to leakage and diversion can be detected.

The beneficiaries can be informed about the availability of TPDS supplies in FPSs through SMSes, e-mails and toll free numbers. This would ensure timely and transparent distribution of food grains to beneficiaries based on their entitlement. Through toll free numbers, beneficiaries can register their grievances and seek resolution.

The cost of the computerization of the TPDS will shared by the Central and State Governments. While the pattern of cost sharing between Centre and states will be on 90:10 for the North-eastern States, the rest of the States and UTs will be incurring equal costs. The costs for the Centre are estimated to be at Rs. 489.37 crore, and for the state governments at Rs. 394.70 crore respectively.