The Centre today urged the states to import foodgrains through their PSUs to support the public distribution system (PDS) and promised to look into subsidies for such imports.
"It is our request that the state governments should also take initiative to support the PDS, as it is a joint responsibility of both the centre and the state. If Tamil Nadu wants to import, they are welcome. I will certainly inquire into the issue (of providing subsidy)," Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
On cases of smuggling of PDS foodgrains, Pawar said several such instances had come to light in the past years.
He said the UP government had in the past, brought to the Centre's notice a case of officials siphoning off PDS supplies and had demanded a CBI probe.
"The CBI has begun investigations in the case. In some other instances, the state's Economic Offences Wing was asked to investigate," he said.
"Some complaints have been received about diversion of foodgrains allocated to State and UT governments under the Targeted PDS and Mid-day Meal Scheme. These complaints have been sent to concerned state and UT governments for inquiry and corrective action as per the powers delegated to them under Essential Commodities Act," Pawar said.
He said the States and UTs were also advised to ensure doorstep delivery of foodgrains to Fair Price Shops under TPDS and active involvement of village level Vigilance Committees.
"To prevent smuggling of foodgrains to neighbouring countries, field agencies of Ministries of Home Affairs and Finance maintain vigil on India's international borders," he added.
