Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

23-October-2012 10:57 IST

Fact Sheet

• The Government has planned End-to-end Computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) to make its reach more effective and beneficiaries friendly with an outlay of Rs. 884.07 crore .

• This plan consists of Digitization of rations cards/beneficiary and other databases, Computerization of Supply-Chain Management, setting up of Transparency Portal and Grievance Redressal Mechanisms. Digitisation of beneficiary database and computerization of supply-chain are expected to be implemented by March, 2013 and October, 2013 respectively.

• Digitisation of beneficiary database will help in weeding out the bogus ration cards and better targeting of subsidies.

• With computerization of supply-chain, the movement of foodgrains upto FPS level can be tracked and the problem of leakage and diversion can be addressed.

• Facilities of SMS, e-mails, toll free numbers will be used to inform the beneficiary about the availability of the TPDS supplies in the Fair Price Shop, which will ensure timely and transparent distribution of foodgrains to beneficiaries as per their entitlement.

• Transparency portal and social audit will further strengthen the functioning of FPSs and ensure accountability at various levels. Beneficiaries will also be able to register their grievances through toll free numbers and seek its resolution.

• Shares of Government of India and State Governments in the cost are estimated at Rs. 489.37 crore and Rs. 394.70 crore respectively. The pattern of cost sharing between Centre and States would be on 90:10 for the North-eastern States, whereas for other States/UTs, cost is to be shared equally.

NCJ

End-to-end computerization of public distribution improves targeting and transparency while enabling grievance redressal and supply-chain tracking. End-to-end computerization of TPDS creates a digital architecture by digitizing ration cards and beneficiary databases, computerizing supply-chain management to track foodgrain movement to Fair Price Shops, and using SMS, e-mail and toll-free services to notify beneficiaries. It pairs these operational measures with a Transparency Portal, social audits and grievance redressal mechanisms to strengthen accountability, and is financed through a central outlay with Centre-State cost sharing, including a 90:10 split for North-eastern States and equal sharing elsewhere.