Up until now a total of about 4.39 Crore ineligible/bogus ration cards have been weeded out in the country during the period 2013 to 2020, so far, by the State/UT Governments.

This was done as a part of technology-driven PDS reforms across the country to modernise the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and to improve the transparency and efficiency in its operations through digitization of ration cards/beneficiaries databases, Aadhaar seeding, detection of ineligible/bogus ration cards, de-duplication of digitised data, migration/deaths of beneficiaries and during the run-up to the implementation of National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).

Further, the respective quota of NFSA coverage thus released, is being regularly utilised by concerned State/UT for the ‘Rightful Targeting’ of beneficiaries under NFSA i.e. inclusion/addition of other genuine & rightfully eligible beneficiaries/households by issuing new ration cards to them, while remaining within the respective ceiling limits of coverage defined for each States/UT under the Act.

The NFSA provides coverage for 81.35 Crore persons to receive highly subsidised food grains through TPDS, which is nearly 2/3rd of the country’s population as per the Census of 2011. Presently, more than 80 Crore persons in the country are receiving foodgrains (Rice, Wheat and Coarse grains) at highly subsidised Central Issue Prices of Rs. 3, 2 and 1 per Kg respectively under NFSA, on monthly basis.

Background

PDS

The Public Distribution System (PDS) is the largest food subsidy programme in India. It reaches out to nearly 11 crore households and provides food grains at subsidised rates. Until 1997, the PDS provided food subsidy to all beneficiaries without targeting.

Although the programme has served millions of poor in the country, it was widely criticised for its failure to serve the entire population below the poverty line, its urban bias, negligible coverage, and lack of transparency and accountability.

TPDS

The Government of India revamped the almost universal PDS and launched the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in 1997 to narrow its coverage to a focused group of beneficiaries. The aim was to provide food grains to a targeted population below the poverty line (BPL). Identification of BPL families was carried out through the BPL census conducted by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

It was also criticised on the grounds of leakage, mis-targeting and inefficiencies in the supply chain during the first 10 years of its implementation. The Planning Commission (GOI 2005) estimated that for every Rs.3.65 spent by the Government of India, only Re.1 reaches BPL households. 

NFSA

The National Food Security Act, notified in 2013, marked a paradigm shift in the history of the food security programme in India. It is a transition from a welfare approach to a rights-based approach. The legislation confers a legal right on beneficiaries to obtain entitled quantities of food grains at highly subsidised prices. It also extended legal rights to women and children and other unprivileged groups including the destitute, homeless, disaster- and emergency-affected people living in starvation for free meals or meals at an affordable price. 

The coverage under the NFSA has increased dramatically compared with the TPDS. A few states have already implemented NFSA or its variants, while others are yet to switch from the TPDS to the NFSA. 

Nevertheless, irrespective of whether the states have adopted TPDS or NFSA to ensure food security to the poor, issues concerning the inefficiency of the supply-chain, weaknesses in implementation/administration, errors in identification and leakages of subsidised grains still remain relevant.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)