The Hindu : National : Below Poverty Line eligibility norms to be reviewed: Pawar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004

National

National

Below Poverty Line eligibility norms to be reviewed: Pawar

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 20. The Ministry of Food and Public Distribution will make every effort to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS). This assurance was given by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Sharad Pawar, at a meeting of members of Parliament convened for inviting suggestions to improve the Targeted PDS.

He said the Ministry had asked the Planning Commission to review the eligibility norms for Below Poverty Line (BPL) scheme as States and Union Territories had issued more cards for this category of beneficiaries.

On the high cost of procurement and distribution charges of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) as alleged by the members, the Minister suggested that de-centralised procurement by State Governments would considerably bring down the carrying, transportation and procurement cost. Procuring States would also be requested to bring down the high taxation and mandi charges for bringing down the economic cost and the food subsidy which stood at Rs. 24176.45 crores in 2003-04 as against Rs. 2,450 crores in 1990-91.

Vigilance panels

Mr. Pawar reiterated the need for effective monitoring of the functioning of fair price shops by forming vigilance committees which could be headed by an elective representative of the State or Centre. The pilot scheme of smart cards for ration distribution, being tried out in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, would be extended to other regions if it was found successful.

The meeting was attended by nearly 300 MPs many of whom raised the issue of diversions of foodgrains meant for the poor and the ``faulty'' measures for identification of BPL beneficiaries. Almost all States contested the number of BPL beneficiaries as worked out by the Planning Commission and sought a revision of the numbers.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National