PDS in shambles

The sale of foodgrains through the public distribution system (PDS) to poor families throughout the country at highly subsidised prices is stinking of corruption, hoarding and black marketing, the Supreme Court-appointed central vigilance committee said in its damning reports. After touring various states and scrutinising the operation of PDS system through fair price shops, the committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice D P Wadhwa used the following terminology for different states:
PDS in the state has collapsed (Rajasthan)
PDS system is glaring example of what the system ought not to be (Jharkhand)
Beneficiaries get ration of a month after a delay of 3-4 months (Bihar)
Fair price shop owners admitted they bribe officials concerned even to get FPS licence and pay monthly bribe (Gujarat)
Appointment of grain storage agents susceptible to political influence (Orissa)
Enforcement lax, collusion between officials, investigating agencies, dealers, wholesalers and other vested interests (Karnataka)
Foodgrain sold at excessive prices at the fair price shops (Uttarakhand)
But the most damning comments were reserved for Delhi, the national capital. Apart from terming the PDS as inefficient and corrupt, the committee said in its report to the apex court that “there is largescale diversion and black marketing of PDS foodgrain’’. “Subsidised PDS foodgrain does not reach the poor who desperately need the same. These poor people never get PDS foodgrain in proper quantity and quality. The fair price shop owner is aware of bogus/fake ration cards and uses these for black marketing of PDS foodgrain,’’ it said. It slammed officials of Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation and said there was rampant corruption in it. “Can anyone believe that the department is unaware of such gross malpractices and illegalities? The only explanation is all round complicity of fair price shop owners, transporters and corrupt officials of the department/ DSCSC,’’ said the reports, a compilation of which was handed over to a bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and K S Radhakrishnan by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves. Citing several first-hand instances of malfunctioning and corruption in the system, the committee said, “There is a thriving nexus between transporters, fair price shops and officials of the department including anti-hoarding cell and DSCSC.’’ Having read the report, the bench asked Gonsalves to suggest whether there could be an alternative to the existing PDS system or if it could be made efficient through corrective measures.