PDS digitisation moving at snail’s pace: 

PDS digitisation moving at snail’s pace: 

Context:

• The progress of the digitization of Public Distribution System

What is the project all about?

• It was launched in 2012 at a cost of 884 crore to complete the automation of Public Distribution System – All fair price or ration shop
• To enable online monitoring of stock positions.
• To empower the government to track the movement of food grains – godowns to fair price shops
• It aimed to ensure that food grains reach the right beneficiaries
• To send SMS alert to beneficiaries

What is the progress made so far?

• The project was given a mission mode by the NDA government (2014)
• Out of 5.26 lakh ration shops, only 15% have been digitized in a 3 year period (2014 -17)
• Less than 10,00 fair price shops had been digitized during the period of 2 years (2012 -14)
• 11 states have not taken the elementary steps of digitizing fair price shops
• The numbers are most stark in the North East region
• Few states in North East region have cited connectivity issues for their inability to start the process

What is the government’s achievement?

• Rs. 2.48 crore bogus cards have been deleted
• It has saved a subsidy of Rs.15, 000 crore per annum