Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Food For Thought
Since the commencement of the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) in June 1997, the foodgrains dispensation by the Centre to the states has come down drastically with allocations for rice falling drastically by about 21.6 per cent and that of wheat falling by about 14 per cent when compared with the 1996-97 figures.
This is mainly because the Centre is sticking to Planning Commission figures on the percentage of poor below the poverty line (BPL) and is allocating foodgrains according. Most states claim that the BPL population is higher in their respective states. And if states want to buy more grains from the PDS kitty — the Centre allocates these at the higher above poverty line or APL prices.
