Centre reviewing PDS, says Shanta Kumar

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 11. The Minister for Food and Public Distribution, Mr. Shanta Kumar, on Wednesday said the Government is reviewing the targetted public distribution scheme (PDS) and will soon come up with a strategy to ensure implementation of the scheme, so that the subsidised foodgrains reach the targetted groups.

Releasing a book, ``Food Security in 21st century'', by former Food Secretary, Mr. B. K. Taimni, the Minister said the Ministry had allocated 1.5 lakh tonnes of free grains as cattle feed for drought-hit States and had even arranged free transportation by train, yet the lifting had been only 13,000 tonnes.

Mr. Shanta Kumar blamed the poor offtake of concessional foodgrains on the ``system'' and ``bad implementation''. He said it was ironical that on the one hand the country had a surplus of foodgrains, and on the other, there was concern about food security. The offtake was never more than 50 per cent in the below povertyline (BPL) population.

The Government was only providing 20 kg to the BPL families per month, as against their requirement of 50 to 55 kg. Still the lifting was poor and the nutritional levels were inadequate. ``Instead of food security what needs to be discussed is honesty, efficiency and workculture security.''

He said the food security had a graver threat than national security. ``Food security was not in competition with national security. But the latter has no relevance in the absence of the former.''

The basic concept of the PDS had been the same over the years and the changes were only ``cosmetic''. Mr. Taimni recommended an ``integrated, interlogging mechanism in a holistic manner for effective food security'' and a political will followed by sensitive administration.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : 8 p.c. growth rate achievable: Pant
Next     : 'India must crusade for n-disarmament'