Govt keen to strengthen targeted PDS

The government will also focus on fixing accountability for improper implementation of the scheme. As part of the process, from October, delivery of food grains to the fair price shops (FPS) for a particular month will be ensured by the states by the end of the previous month, the government said on Tuesday.

Also, smart card and other information technology initiatives will be given high priority for the TPDS, the Centre said after a two-day conference of state food secretaries on best practices and reforms in the TPDS.

Union Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar, facing flak over the price rise, earlier launched a pilot scheme on smart card-based delivery of essential commodities under the TPDS. The scheme is now being introduced in Haryana and Chandigarh. The conference decided that proper identification of beneficiaries would be made based on revised poverty estimates and latest population estimates. And states would try to ensure doorstep delivery of food grains to FPS.