Encouraged by their success in running the mid-day meal scheme, the Chhattisgarh government plans to offer 33 per cent of its PDS outlets to women’s self-help groups (SHGs).Some of the over 55,000 registered women’s SHGs operating in 16 districts of the state are currently involved in running the PDS (Public Distribution System) ration shops, but the state government is keen to give them a greater role to play in handling these shops. With this in mind, it is considering a proposal to provide the women’s groups 33 per cent reservation in managing the PDS outlets in villages. The state Cabinet is expected to take a decision on this at its meeting scheduled for Friday.To check irregularities in the system, the government also has plans to revamp the entire public distribution network by ending the monopoly of private agencies and allowing women’s SHGs, NGOs, village cooperatives, Van Suraksha Samitis and Gram Panchayats to play a more active role. The state has 8,475 PDS outlets, of which 3,191 are in the hands of private players.The state government had earlier tried to implement this new system in six tribal districts — Bastar, Dantewara, Kanker, Sarguja, Jashpur and Koria — all of which come under the newly formed Tribal Development Authority, but some of the PDS dealers challenged the decision in the high court, alleging discrimination. It was then that the Arjun Munda government decided to introduce the system in the entire state.‘‘Now we will implement the new model across the state and private agencies will no longer have any role to play in running the PDS ration depots,’’ a senior Food and Supply official said.Complaints of irregularities had been pouring in for quite some time, and the government was particularly upset over the detection of over five lakh bogus ration cards in the state. According to official reports, in Durg district alone, 36,000 bogus ration card-holders had been getting the benefits due to BPL families for the past three years. Similar complaints had also been received from Raigarh, Mahasamund, Raipur, Sarguja and Bilaspur districts.Said B.K.S. Ray, Principal Secretary (Food and Supplies), admitted there had been complaints and said: ‘‘The government is coming out with a revamped PDS model to check all sorts of irregularities and to ensure that the targeted sections get the full benefits’’.
