Context
ecently, the West Bengal government launched the ‘Duare Ration’ (ration at doorstep) scheme for providing food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) at the doorstep for the entire population of the State.
Key-highlights
- The Duare Ration (ration at doorstep) scheme is going to benefit around 10 crore people of the state.
- The government has also decided to enhance the commission for ration dealers from Rs75 to Rs 150 per quintal of food grains.
- There are around 21000 rational dealers in the state and the government would provide a subsidy of Rs. 1 lakh to each dealer to purchase a delivery vehicle.
- Ration dealers will also be allowed to recruit two assistants for which state would pay half their salaries.
- Each vehicle would be parked at a convenient location in a neighborhood so that residents need not walk more than 500 meters to avail the ration.
- Under the scheme, 10 crore people will get their ration at their doorstep on a fixed day every month.
Public Distribution System
- PDS is an Indian food Security System for the poor people established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
- It is a government-managed process of ensuring that food, staples, grains, and other necessities are being provided to the poorer sections of the society in India.
- The state and the central governments work hand in hand to provide food grains and other essential items at low prices for communities that are under and just above the poverty line.
- The Central government is responsible for procurement, storage, transportation, and bulk allocation of food grains,
- The State governments hold the responsibility for distributing the same to the consumers through the established network of approximately 5 lakh Fair Price Shops.
- The centre procures food grains from farmers at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) and sells them to states at central issue prices.
- Food and some non-food items are provided at a subsidized rate through a chain of Fair Price Shops (FPS) or Ration Shops.
- Major commodities distributed include wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution.
- Some states/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.
- The National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013 legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System.
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