SHILLONG, Oct 3 - To stop leakages in Public Distribution System (PDS) the Central Government is willing to introduce Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme in urban areas in the country provided the State Governments express their willingness.
Stating this, Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the Centre is more than ready to introduce DBT in PDS at least in the urban areas. �We have no problem. It is up to the State Governments, if they are willing to implement DBT at least in urban areas,� Paswan stated.
So far, only three Union Territories in the country have covered 100 per cent of the beneficiaries with DBT under PDS and these are Puducherry, Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Under DBT scheme, the Central Government provides direct cash transfer for rice and wheat. In the case of rice, an amount of Rs 25 per kg per month would be provided and Rs 18 for wheat. The cash transfer would be commensurate with the food grain allotment of each family.
The Union Minister said that DBT would help stop leakages as people would get the amount according to their allotment, but presently lot of shortcomings was holding the States and Centre from implementing it.
Some of the hurdles before the DBT are the absence of banking facilities, power and telephony in the rural areas. But since there aren�t any major concerns over these issues in the urban centres the DBT could be introduced there immediately.
Leakages in the PDS have been a major concern in Meghalaya. Although, Meghalaya has lifted its quota of rice and wheat over the past few months the same is distributed erratically. This has been a regular feature over the years.
The Union Minister said that in the review meeting of Northeastern States, to be held in Guwahati tomorrow, the Ministry would urge NE States to introduce DBT in urban areas of their States. They would also be asked to speed up the end-to-end computerisation process in their respective States for the smooth implementation of the National Food Security Act.
SHILLONG, Oct 3 - To stop leakages in Public Distribution System (PDS) the Central Government is willing to introduce Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme in urban areas in the country provided the State Governments express their willingness.
Stating this, Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the Centre is more than ready to introduce DBT in PDS at least in the urban areas. �We have no problem. It is up to the State Governments, if they are willing to implement DBT at least in urban areas,� Paswan stated.
So far, only three Union Territories in the country have covered 100 per cent of the beneficiaries with DBT under PDS and these are Puducherry, Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Under DBT scheme, the Central Government provides direct cash transfer for rice and wheat. In the case of rice, an amount of Rs 25 per kg per month would be provided and Rs 18 for wheat. The cash transfer would be commensurate with the food grain allotment of each family.
The Union Minister said that DBT would help stop leakages as people would get the amount according to their allotment, but presently lot of shortcomings was holding the States and Centre from implementing it.
Some of the hurdles before the DBT are the absence of banking facilities, power and telephony in the rural areas. But since there aren�t any major concerns over these issues in the urban centres the DBT could be introduced there immediately.
Leakages in the PDS have been a major concern in Meghalaya. Although, Meghalaya has lifted its quota of rice and wheat over the past few months the same is distributed erratically. This has been a regular feature over the years.
The Union Minister said that in the review meeting of Northeastern States, to be held in Guwahati tomorrow, the Ministry would urge NE States to introduce DBT in urban areas of their States. They would also be asked to speed up the end-to-end computerisation process in their respective States for the smooth implementation of the National Food Security Act.
