After launching pilots to test direct subsidy transfer in domestic cooking gas and kerosene, the government is considering a mechanism for directly transferring food subsidy and will shortly launch a pilot scheme in some of the union territories, K V Thomas, minister for food, public distribution and consumer affairs said today.
He said the idea was to check leakage and diversions of subsidised food grains. Thomas was addressing a meeting of the state food ministers to discuss ways of strengthening the public distribution system.
The food minister said that checking leakages and diversion of foodgrains has been a challenge for the successful implementation of the public distribution system, a number of steps have been taken to address this problem. He said use of technology can play a big role in this and some states especially Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have taken commendable steps in computerisation of various PDS operations.
The central government intend to deploy ICT tools in a big way and a blueprint for end-to-end computerization of targeted PDS operations has been prepared. As a first step in this direction, a scheme covering Digitization of ration cards/beneficiaries and other databases, Computerization of Supply-Chain Management, Setting up of Transparency Portal and Grievance Redressal mechanism has been approved for implementation on cost sharing basis with states. Thomas solicited cooperation of states in successful implementation of this scheme.