What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make food grain distribution system more effective?
To address longstanding issues of leakage, inefficiency, and targeting errors in the food grain distribution system, the Government of India has implemented several significant reforms. These steps are aimed at making the Public Distribution System (PDS) more transparent, targeted, and effective.
The most transformative step has been the use of technology. End-to-end computerization of the PDS supply chain, from procurement to distribution, helps track food grains in real-time. The integration of Aadhaar with ration cards and the deployment of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) machines at fair price shops ensure biometric authentication. This helps eliminate ghost beneficiaries and ensures that subsidies reach the right people.
A major policy shift was the enactment of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. This moved from a welfare-based approach to a rights-based one, legally entitling a large portion of the population to subsidized food grains.
To address the needs of a mobile workforce, the ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ (ONORC) scheme was launched. This allows migrant workers and their families to access their entitled food grains from any fair price shop in the country, ensuring food security regardless of their location.
Furthermore, grievance redressal mechanisms have been strengthened through toll-free helplines and online portals. Efforts are also being made to improve supply chain management through GPS tracking of vehicles carrying food grains and digitizing warehouse records to prevent diversion and wastage.
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Important Questions from GS3
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