In Gadwal district, there is a problem with rice meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS) being diverted illegally. Dealers and millers are buying rice from the poor at low prices and mixing it with better rice to sell at higher prices. This leads to profits for them but leaves the intended beneficiaries without enough food.
Some key points to note are:
– The rice from PDS is collected from poor people at low prices and sold at much higher prices after being mixed with better rice.
– Special mills process this rice and sell it at high rates.
– A well-organized gang operates this illegal business, mostly in rural and urban areas.
– Government rice for the poor is often diverted before reaching them, leading to corruption by mill owners.
– Authorities seem unable to stop these illegal activities.
To address this issue, various strategies can be implemented:
– Use biometric authentication to ensure rice reaches the right people.
– Replace physical ration cards with digital ones.
– Install e-POS machines at ration shops for digital transactions.
– Develop public distribution portals for citizens to track their entitlements.
– Conduct social audits involving community members.
– Conduct regular inspections and protect whistleblowers.
– Impose severe penalties on those involved in diverting PDS rice.
– Ensure transparency in the procurement and distribution process.
By implementing these strategies, corruption in the PDS system can be reduced, ensuring that rice reaches those who need it most.
