Reservation code followed in allotment of PDS outlets: Rajak

Bihar government has implemented 50 per cent reservation in allotment of Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets in the state, Food Minister Shyam Rajak said today.
Notification of new allotment will be made available from the office of Sub Division Officer (SDO) from January 26, next, he said in a statement here.
Of the 55,216 PDS outlets, out of which 42,090 are functional at present, 6,866 have been given to Schedule Castes, 295 to Schedule Tribe, 12,443 to OBC, 2819 to Extremely Backward Castes, 3,053 to the minorities, 3403 to women and 217 to Self Help Groups, among others, he said.

At present, about 13,000 PDS shops are vacant which would be alloted as per reservation rules, the Minister said.
Rajak said in the allotment of PDS outlets, SC received 16 per cent of outlets, ST 1 per cent, Extremely Backward Castes 18 per cent, OBC 12 per cent and women of backward castes 3 per cent.
The Minister said except for cases of allotment of PDS shops on the basis of compassionate ground, preference has been given to recommendations of Self Help Groups, cooperatives, women cooperatives, committees of ex-servicemen and panchayat and ward officials.