(a) whether the Government proposes to involve Panchayati Raj
Institutions to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS);
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the modalities worked out
for the purpose; and
(c) the steps taken to implement the social audit concept in PDS?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) to (c): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the
joint responsibility of Central Government and State/Union Territory (UT)
Governments. The Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation
and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation
of India. The operational responsibilities for lifting and distributing the
allocated foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible Below
Poverty Line (BPL) families, issuance of ration cards to them and supervision
over distribution of allocated foodgrains to eligible card holders through the
Fair Price Shops (FPSs) are of the State/UT Governments.
Public Distribution System (Control) Order 2001, mandates the State/UT
Governments to carry out all required action to ensure smooth functioning of TPDS.
Instructions have been issued to State/UT Governments for involving Panchayati
Raj Institutions in the functioning of the TPDS. The instructions, interalia,
stipulate that the list of BPL beneficiaries should be displayed in the Fair Price
Shop (FPS) as well as the office of the Gram Panchayat for public scrutiny; notices
regarding entitlements of foodgrains and their prices may be pasted in the office of
the Gram Panchayats, Blocks, Tehsils, etc; copy of ration card, stock and sale
registers maintained may be sent to the Gram Panchayats; Gram Panchayats should be
encouraged to form a FPS Committee which should include the members of the existing
Vigilance Committees for the Fair Price Shops of the area under its jurisdiction as
also the representatives of the TPDS groups, women and SC/ST/OBC panchayat members
to keep a watch on the functioning of the FPS, etc.
As per these instructions, States where properly constituted Gram Panchayats
are not in a position for some reason, the State Governments should evolve an
alternative mechanism to discharge the aforesaid responsibilities of Gram Panchayats.
In the Conference of State Food Secretaries held in July 2010, it was resolved,
among others, that monitoring of distribution of PDS items by FPSs may be done through
social audit by local bodies/ community groups/Non-Governmental Organisations.