Online info on grain stock soon

By the year-end, it may be possible to determine the exact amount of foodgrain stocked in godowns at the block level and the exact quantity released to fair price shops, all by logging on to a website.

The data will not be available on a real-time basis, but in the form of monthly updates. That by itself will be no mean achievement "" currently, the information is simply not available, especially at the state-level. Eventually, the data may be revised every week.

This initiative is aimed at transparency in the massive public distribution system, notorious for leakages and pilferage.

The food ministry is working on an "integrated information system for foodgrain management", which officials describe as an online system that also aims to tackle a large number of queries regarding foodgrain stocks under the Right to Information Act.

In 2005-06, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) distributed 261 lakh tonnes of foodgrain.

The FCI is already operating the platform on its website. It captures the complete workflow of the FCI "" from the depot to the head office-level "" and allows reconciliation of stock figures.

"In addition to the FCI, we want to capture online the details of foodgrain stocks at the state-level and then right up to the block-level. We met state government officials last week to get them to link up their state websites with the FCI website. With several states evincing interest, we should be able to provide the online facility in the next 2-3 months," a top food ministry official said.

Madhya Pradesh was one state that had already set up a state-level Internet portal to enable citizens to access information on foodgrain, the official added.

Initially, states could be required to update the online data on a monthly basis.

However, since FCI data was updated on a weekly basis, states would later be encouraged to update the data on a weekly basis, he said.