The Chhattisgarh Government has been using information technology as a perfect tool to revolutionise its model public distribution system (PDS) in its attempt to ensure the delivery of highly subsidized food items through the ration shops across the State to feed millions of poor families.
“IT has completely reformed the public distribution system (PDS) in Chhattisgarh, so much that Chhattisgarh's PDS has been recognized as the best PDS model in the country,’’ a government statement claimed.
Ministers and officials from 20 states of the country have observed the PDS model of Chhattisgarh and it has been awarded with five national awards.
Chhattisgarh government has done computerization of all fair price shops in state to bring transparency and ensure accountability in public distribution system. In addition to this, ration card are also being linked with the aadhaar card numbers to ensure proper identification of eligible beneficiaries.
linkage of aadhaar cards to ration cards has provided the beneficiaries with the facility to avail ration supply from any of the computerized fair price shops of their area. With this system, beneficiaries will not have to bring their ration cards to ration shop, as they can easily receive their share of ration using their aadhaar card number. Through aadhaar card number, beneficiaries will also be able to avail Central government’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme.
Government claimed that State government's Food Civil Supply and Consumer Protection department has computerized 12021 shops out of 12349 ration shops of state with android-based tablet. More than 92 per cent ration cards have been linked with aadhaar card numbers. State Government allots the stock of rice, sugar, salt and grams to all 27 districts of state by 10th of every month, under PDS, welfare schemes and Mukhyamantri Khadyann Yojana. Presently nearly 58 lakh families in state are being provided monthly supply of rice at nominal rate of Rs 1.
For computerization of PDS, all the District Food Offices have been linked with headquarters through internet. All 125 fair price shops of Chhattisgarh Civil Supply Corporation have been equipped with internet connectivity.
To enhance transparency and to ensure public participation in PDS, Chhattisgarh Government's Food Civil Supply and Consumer Protection Department has made all the necessary arrangements using information technology. Government has also set up a call centre with toll free numbers 1800-233-3663 and 1967. Any citizen can call on these numbers and get information about PDS and various other schemes of Food Department or register their complaints.
Food department has also taken an innovative step to encourage public participation by launching website http//cg.nic.in/citizen. On this website, citizens may get registration for free and then they can lodge complaint or give suggestion/feedback through email. After registration, they may also get information about ration shops through SMS.
