Chhattisgarh Model in Public Distribution System (PDS)

There are 5,35,000 PDS outlets in the country which is roughly twice the number of Panchayats in the country. Every BPL card holder is entitled to get 35 kg of rice or wheat every month and similarly, every APL card holder is enttled to get 15kg of food grains every month. With the advent of food security law, public distribution system has become very important. However, throughout the country, PDS has been charged with corruption, inefficiency and leakage ever since the beginning. Only two states – Chhattisgarh and Odisha have received all round praises and acts as a shining example for the rest of the country to follow.

The two states have made PDS a success by using digitization and automation with appropriate intervention of information and communications technology and made it to work efficiently and equitably.

Chhattisgarh’s model

Chhattisgarh is hailed as the model state in Public Distribution System (PDS). It has earned the praise of the union government and Supreme Court which have ordered other states to follow its model. The state made reforms to the PDS system mainly in three phases.

First phase

In the first phase, the state government brought in the Chhattisgarh Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2004 to bring about a number of changes to the PDS delivery and procurement system. Most significantly, it eliminated the middlemen putting an end to corruption. Other significant reforms in this phase are:

• It de-privatised all ration shops and ensure its smooth functioning by handing it over to the self help groups, gram panchayats, van Suraksha Samitis and other community institutions.
• Ration shops were established in each gram panchayats
• Rations were provided to cardholders on time.

Second phase

• Efforts were increased to bring in more transparency by involving public and making the system online.
• Call centres were established throughout the state.
• All the information about collection and distribution of ration at PDS outlets were made public by making it available on the website.
• SMS alerts were sent to people informing of ration movements and all records pertaining to supplies, sales, etc., were computerised.

Third phase

Paddy procurement process was strengthened and an online system was introduced for the same. Arrangements were made to directly transfer the payment to the farmer’s bank account. As a result of all this, Chhattisgarh has become an important contributor to Centre’s pool after the states like Punjab, Andhra Pradesh etc.

Significant highlights of the Chhattisgarh’s PDS system

• The state provides pulse, gram, sugar, iodized salt to the beneficiaries to ensure nutrition security in addition to food security.
• Around 90% of the people in Chhattisgarh have been provided with both food and nutritional security.
• The state became the first state to provide ‘Right-to-Food’ to its people and made it into a law.
• Under Chhattisgarh Food Security Act, 2.32 crore people are reaping the benefits. Landless labourers, small farmers having a land holding up to 5 acres, unorganized labourers like barbers, shoe-makers, carpenters etc have been included in the priority list under the act.
• From the 2014, the state government started implementing the Core PDS scheme. According to this scheme, the ration shop owners are answerable to the consumers. This scheme has won many national awards.
• The state has launched ‘Meri Marji’ scheme in 2012 which is in operation in selected districts. According to this scheme, consumers can buy rations from the shops of their choice under the Core PDS system.

In this year’s budget, it has been announced that around 3 lakh out of the 5.35 lakh fair price shops in the country would be provided automation facilities by March 2017.

Discussion: Replication of Chhattisgarh Model in Rest of the Country

There are significant challenges that need to be addressed to bring in efficiency and transparency in the PDS. Obviously, digitization and computerisation will help to bring in transparency as seen in the Chhattisgarh’s model and replicate the same in other parts of India. To make that happen it is important to make the PDSs’ staff digitally literate to handle the digital devices and automation. Efficient hands are required to capture the required information quickly and correctly. It would be prudent if the Chhattisgarh’s model is studied and implemented with changes as per the requirements of the states and regions concerned in order to reap the benefits of food security act. It is the duty of the state to ensure that the rations reach the eligible citizens on time and the system enjoys efficiency, transparency and accountability.