|
Rajya Sabha
The center has taken several steps to strengthen the Targeted Public Distribution System in the country. The Government has also introduced the scheme of Decentralised Procurement of foodgrains in 1997-98. Under the Decentalised Procurement scheme, the State Governments procure, store and distribute foodgrains under TPDS and other welfare schemes. The surplus foodgrains are transferred to the central pool. This was stated in Rajya Sabha today by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh in reply to a question of Smt. S.G. Indira.
The State Governments of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have been undertaking Decentralised Procurement.
As per the recommendations of the State Food Minister’s Conference held on October 28, 2004 all the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations have been instructed to ensure that all families at the risk of hunger are covered by the System, the migrant labour or displaced persons or homeless population should be issued ration entitlement authority slips, steps to improve the economic vibility of ration shops, to facilitate and encourage Decentralised Procurement of foodgrains so as to make the PDS more cost effective and to cater to local tastes and better monitoring of the System were recommended. As per the same recommendations referred to above, the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations have been advised that cooperatives of Women and Ex-servicemen should be given priority in the matter of allotting fair price shops licenses, the House was informed.
|
