Rot in PDS: Half of subsidised food grain does not reach poor

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s concern over the rot in the state’s public distribution system (PDS) and his directives for action against the ration mafia are not without reason.

Nearly half of the food grains under the public distribution system (PDS) never reaches the eligible poor beneficiaries. Uttar Pradesh is home to more than 22% of the country’s poor.

The CBI is already probing the Rs 35,000-crore food grain scam. The subsidised food grain meant to be distributed among the poor under the PDS was diverted to open market in 31 districts in UP between 2002 and 2010.

Aware of corruption in the PDS chain, the CM had ordered verification of all ration cards during a presentation by the food and civil supplies department at the Lok Bhawan recently.

He directed tough action against the ration mafia through sustained campaign by the administration in districts. The CM said he had received complaints about irregularities in the PDS. “We have already started preparing a plan to launch a statewide drive to verify ration cards in the first phase and then begin a crackdown on the food grain mafia,” said a senior official.

In June last year, the SP government had also admitted to heavy leakage in the PDS on the floor of the UP assembly. A study conducted by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations two years ago revealed that out of the total 8.29 MMT rice and wheat that was taken by UP from the central pool in 2011-12, only 4.3 MT reached the intended beneficiaries.

The remaining 47.9% was apparently pilfered or diverted to open market as multiple agencies are involved in lifting and handling of grain. The study says that on an all-India level, 46.7% or 25.9 million metric tons (MMTs) of the off-taken grain did not reach the intended PDS beneficiaries during the year.

The percentage share of total leakage increased in states, including UP, where the percentage of India’s poor is higher.

It was found that five states — UP, Bihar, MP, Maharashtra and West Bengal – which are home to nearly 60% of India’s poor, accounted for nearly 50% of the total leakage in the country.

Significantly, out of the total 25.91 MMT of grain pilfered in the entire country, UP alone accounted for 4 MMT (15.3%) followed by West Bengal (3 MMT), Bihar (2.5 MMT) Maharashtra (2.43 MMT), Rajasthan ( 2MMTs), MP (1.51 MMT), Assam (1.49 MMTs) and Karnataka (1.4 MMT). These eight states pilfered over 70% of the total grain of the PDS. UP topped the chart in terms of absolute quantity of grains pilfered during the period of study. Sources said the possibility of even a bigger leakage after the roll out of the Food Security Act in the state could not be ruled out.

“Efforts like electronic sale devices at ration shops and introduction of smart card-like ration card can check the rot to some extent,” said a senior official.

Since the central food grain allocation to Uttar Pradesh has been almost doubled under the NFSA, there is a possibility of more pilferage now SENIOR OFFICIAL