Par panel pulls up central, state govts on PDS security scheme

A Parliamentary Panel has pulled up the central and state governments for poor implementation of the Rs 884 crore scheme for end-to-end computerisation of the public distribution system to plug leakages.
A scheme on 'End-to-end Computerisation of TDPS Operations' in all states/Union Territories was formulated and the government approved Component-I of the scheme with an outlay of Rs 884.07 crore during the 12th five year plan.
The central share of funds is Rs 489.37 crore, whereas states/UTs would provide funds of Rs 394.7 crore for the full period of 12th plan.
"The Committee are constrained to observe that financial performance under the scheme is far from satisfactory," the Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution said in its report on computerisation of PDS.

JC Divakar Reddy is the chairperson of the committee.
The panel observed that out of the central share of Rs 489.37 crore so far only Rs 261.51 crore has been released to states during the financial years 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 fiscals and till May 31, 2015.

"On the other hand, the cumulative expenditure reported for this period is a meagre amount of Rs 56.49 crore implying at the same time that the States have not been to spend about Rs 205.02 crore," the report said.
The panel further said that though funds were released to 27 States/UTs, 14 states have not shown/reported any expenditure during this period.

"This speak volumes of the performance of this vital scheme aimed to prevent leakages, diversion in supply of foodgrains - an important component in the government's policy for management of food economy of the country," the panel said.
"It is further disconcerting to observe that in the process, while the state governments have not been able to utilise the funds available during the 12th plan period, the efforts made by the Department of Food and Public Distribution too leave much to be desired," the report said.
The Department was not able to track the progress of implementation and utilisation of fund properly.

"The Committee, therefore, desire the government to take concerted steps to closely monitor the progress of implementation of the scheme across States so as to achieve desired goal of minimise leakages and diversions, if not altogether eliminating the same, thereby attain transparency to a large extent," the panel said.