Food grains are not reaching the poor through PDS, every year there is a dent in the ration worth Rs 69 thousand crores.

New Delhi: A big revelation has come to light regarding irregularities in the country's Public Distribution System (PDS). 28% of the food grains are not reaching the needy poor through PDS. According to information received from a latest report, every year food grains worth Rs 69 thousand crores goes to the wrong place instead of the poor. The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) has revealed this in its report. This report states that every year the government buys rice and wheat to provide free or cheap grains to 814 million people. But, a large part of this, 20 million tonnes, is either sold in the open market or exported to other countries.

Infosys Chair Professors at ICRIER, Ashok Gulati, Raya Das and Ranjana Roy have contributed to this report. He said, 'This is an annual loss. Where is the grain going? It is possible that it is being sold in the open market or exported. The report analyzes monthly data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) and Food Corporation of India (FCI) from August 2022 to July 2023.

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This figure was 46 percent in 2011-12

According to the report, in 2011-12, 46% of the food grains were wasted. At the same time, now this figure has come down to 28%. Nevertheless, it is a matter of concern that a large part of the free or cheap grains does not reach the needy. Point-of-sale (POS) machines were installed in ration shops in 2016. This has reduced theft of grains. But the problem is still not completely over.

There were irregularities in PDS in these states

The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations has informed in its report that the maximum disturbances have occurred in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Gujarat. At the same time, this problem is very serious due to lack of digital system in the North-Eastern states. On the other hand, states like Bihar and West Bengal have shown considerable improvement in this matter. In Bihar, 68.7% grain theft took place in 2011-12. Whereas, in 2022-23 it decreased to 19.2%. Similarly, in West Bengal this figure decreased from 69.4% to 9%. However, overall grain theft is highest in Uttar Pradesh at 33%. This problem remains serious in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra also.

80 crore people benefited from PDS

India's PDS system is one of the largest in the world. Through this, cheap food grains are provided to more than 80 crore people. But, there are many flaws in this system. Because of this the government has to suffer huge losses every year. Many suggestions have been given in the report to improve PDS. Such as identifying needy people, starting a food stamp or voucher system or direct cash transfer.