The Hindu Business Line : Govt plans to computerise PDS network at Rs 222 cr

According to the policy note on Food and Consumer Protection tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday, a project report will soon be submitted to the Centre for consideration under the National e-Governance Action Plan. The proposal is to implement e-governance by networking the Civil Supplies Department, the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and the Co-operatives.

The objective is to streamline the operations of PDS which supplies essential commodities such as rice, sugar and kerosene at subsidised rates. In Tamil Nadu, the PDS provides universal coverage to the public as the State does not discriminate between those above and those below the poverty line.

Food subsidy

For 2006-07, the food subsidy is estimated at Rs 1,950 crore up from Rs 1,200 crore in 2005-06. There are over 1.89 crore family cards which enable the public to buy the commodities from the PDS outlets.

The Government is also taking to steps to eliminate bogus cards that divert the commodities to the open market. A pilot project has been taken up to detect the percentage of bogus cards.

According to a white paper on Tamil Nadu's finances tabled by the previous Government, the 2001 Census indicated that the number of household in the State was 1.44 crore but there were over 1.6-crore ration cards in circulation.

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