(a) whether the Government has recently reviewed the working of Public Distribution System (PDS) in the country; and
(b) if so, the main findings of the report and the steps taken thereon?
(a) whether the Government has recently reviewed the working of Public Distribution System (PDS) in the country; and
(b) if so, the main findings of the report and the steps taken thereon?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE)
(a) & (b): This Department has been getting the functioning of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) evaluated by different agencies from time to time. An evaluation study of TPDS was got conducted by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in respect of 12 States (reports submitted in 2007-09) and through Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in respect of 14 States(reports submitted in 2010-11). These evaluation studies have revealed certain shortcomings/ deficiencies in the functioning of TPDS such as inclusion/exclusion errors and leakages/ diversion of foodgrains, details of which are at Annex-I to IV. The reports received have been sent to the States/UTs concerned for taking necessary remedial measures to remove the deficiencies noticed in the functioning of TPDS.