Paper & Topic: GS II – Poverty related issues

Model Answer:

Introduction: 

The Public Distribution System (PDS), an Indian food security system, was developed as a way to manage emergency circumstances and distribute food at reasonable costs. It provides the underprivileged in India with subsidised food and non-food goods. Launched in June 1947, this plan. It runs on a regular basis at a subsidised price through a network of Fair Price Shops.

Body:

PDS’s importance:

Food grains are provided to the underprivileged at prices lower than those found in private stores.

Farmers are guaranteed a higher price because food grains are bought straight from them.

Make products affordable for consumers, especially the weaker and more impoverished segments of society.

Correct the current supply and demand imbalances for consumer goods. Check for and stop black marketing and stockpiling of necessities.

Make sure that the distribution of essentials for life reflects social justice.

even out variations in the cost and accessibility of consumer products.

Encourage rural employment projects (SGRY/SGSY/IRDP/Midday Meals, ICDS, DWCRA, SHGs, and Food for Work), as well as educational feeding schemes, to help reduce poverty.

Challenges PDS is facing:

Procurement:

All incoming grains are accepted in open-ended procurement even if buffer stock is exhausted, causing a shortfall on the open market.

The Nation Food Security Act’s recent implementation will only result in more procurement, which will raise grain prices.

the discrepancy between needed and available storage space.

Farmers have been encouraged to switch from producing coarse grains that are consumed by the poor to rice and wheat by the availability of minimum support prices.

Storage:

Lack of storage space with FCI.

damage to or spoiling of food grains stored in CAP or Cover & Plinth systems.

The government incurs significant carrying expenses due to the storage of food grains.

Distribution of grains for food:

There are many poor and needy people who are left out and many phoney cards are also issued, making the states’ identification of the impoverished not always accurate.

Illegal Fair Price stores: To sell food grains in the open market, the store operators have produced a sizable number of fictitious cards or ghost cards (cards for nonexistent customers).

Transportation:

Food grain shipment leaks and is diverted.

Distribution, procurement, and generational distribution of food are uneven. For instance, the north-eastern states are relatively far from Punjab and Haryana, the sources of wheat. Food grain transportation from Punjab to remote regions of the North East will be expensive and time-consuming.

Other problems:

Good-quality grains are frequently swapped out with inexpensive, low-quality grains.

Only a few food grains, such wheat and rice, are distributed through the public system, which does not provide a full diet.

Owner of Fair Price Shop purchases fictitious Ration cards and sells food commodities in the open market.

PDS reforms carried out by the government:

Digitalized ration cards linked to Aadhaar: This enables online beneficiary data submission and verification. Additionally, it permits online monitoring of beneficiaries’ monthly allocations and food grain consumption.

Computerised Fair Price Shops: The installation of a “Point of Sale” system to exchange the ration card made FPS automated. It verifies the recipients and keeps track of how much grain aid was delivered to each home.

DBT: The Direct Benefit Transfer scheme substitutes a cash transfer for the food grain subsidy component by transferring money to the beneficiaries’ accounts. They will have the freedom to purchase food grains from any vendor in the marketplace. The States/UTs would need to finish digitising beneficiary data and seed Aadhaar and bank account information before implementing this strategy. Cash transfers alone are thought to be capable of saving the government’s coffers 30,000 crores of rupees annually.

Utilisation of GPS technology: The use of GPS technology to track the motion of trucks transporting food grains from state stockpiles to FPS can aid in preventing diversion.

SMS-based monitoring: Enables citizens to keep track of TPDS commodities by registering their mobile numbers and sending and receiving SMS alerts when the commodities are being delivered.

Public grievance redressal mechanisms, such as a toll-free number for call centres to submit complaints or ideas, can be used through a web-based citizens’ portal.

Moving ahead:

Priority should be given to making sure that FCI operates in a quick and efficient manner in accordance with the Shanta Kumar Committee’s recommendations.

The nation must develop a 100 lakh tonne storage silo capacity. RITES has been tasked with modifying the silo model in this regard, and they will deliver their recommendations to FCI in 90 days.

In addition to contractual employment, FCI currently employs three other types of workers: departmental, Daily Payment System (DPS), and No Work, No Pay (NWNP) personnel. The Indian government is considering concluding the three disparate arrangements and bringing all FCI employees under a single, uniform structure that will guarantee everyone’s salary and tenure security.

A Human Resource Management System (HRMS) must be put into place in order to enhance the use of information technology at FCI.

Conclusion:

PDS has contributed to socioeconomic justice by assisting in the reduction of hunger, malnutrition, and anaemia among the BPL population, women, children, and the poorest of the poor. The efficiency of PDS will be further improved by the use of ICT to decrease touchpoints.