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Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH, JULY 4: Following complaints of irregularities in issuing items under the Public Distribution System PDS, the Union Ministry is learnt to have issued guidelines to the UT Administration to ensure transparency in the functioning of the system by involving the Panchayati Raj institutions. Similar guidelines have also been issued to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Administration has reportedly been told that the list of beneficiaries below the poverty line should be displayed in the fair price shops and the office of gram panchayat for public scrutiny. Interestingly, only 1,000 persons have been given the yellow ration cards to avail facilities for those below poverty line BPL.
The rates for the BPL category and the general category have a difference of more than half. While the issue prices of wheat and rice for BPL card holders are Rs 3.25 per kg and Rs 3.50 per kg, respectively, the rates for the general category are Rs 6.85 per kg for wheat and Rs 9.60 per kg for rice.
The Ministry has also directed that publicity regarding issue prices and entitlement of PDS commodities should be given through local newspapers or a notice should be pasted in the office of gram panchayats and Estate Office besides the office of the UT Food and Supplies Department.
The registers at the fair price shops are to be open to inspection by gram panchayats who can report any irregularities to a senior UT official designated for the purpose.
