Telangana CM calls for reform in Public Distribution System

In wake of ration dealers serving a strike notice, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday suggested implementation of a foolproof distribution policy to remove irregularities in the Public Distribution System (PDS), so that beneficiaries reap total benefits.

"The essential commodities meant for the poor are being diverted and there is a mafia operating in supplying of the PDS rice. The money being spent on the poor should reach them cent percent. For this we have to come up with a new and effective method," Rao said in a review meeting held at Pragati Bhavan.

The Chief Minister observed that the benefits of the system are not reaching the poor despite the state government spending Rs 6,500 crore and distributing essential commodities to the poor through the ration shops.

"Several All India Services officers, state government officers, and other staff are working on the programme. The government is being bogged down with the system and while spending thousands of crores, the programme is not yielding the desired result," Rao said at the meeting, adding that the state government is getting a bad name because of illegal operators hoarding and supplying PDS rice.

The officials also suggested transferring money to the accounts of beneficiaries, if the dealers do not withdraw their strike.

Ministers Laxmareddy, Government's Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary S. P. Singh, MP Balka Suman, MLC Karne Prabhakar, Civil Supplies Commissioner C. V. Ananad, Senior officials S Narsing Rao, Rama Krishna Rao, Vakati Karuna, Shanta Kumari, Smita Sabharwal, Bhoopal Reddy and others were present at the meeting.