Tripura asked to expedite digitization of PDS to check fraud
Agartala, April 23: The Union government has asked the northeastern states to expedite the computerisation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) to ensure greater efficiency and transparency, and to check large-scale fraud.
"After the digitisation of ration cards and computerisation of PDS, transparency and performance of the government-sponsored food supply system will improve and various fraudulent acts and falsification will be curbed," says Union Food and Public Distribution Department Director, D.K. Gupta
He said: "After full operationalisation of the computerised PDS and digitisation of ration cards, infiltrators and fake beneficiaries will not be able to benefit from PDS. Infiltration of people in the northeastern region from across the borders is a major issue."
India's northeastern region, comprising eight states and home to 45.58 million people (2011 census), borders China, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Some states have trade ties with some of these countries, especially Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The official said that while digitisation of ration cards in most states, including in the Northeast, was completed, progress of Aadhaar seeding in ration cards was very poor in most of the states in the region, except Tripura and Sikkim.
He said seeding of Aadhaar in ration cards in Tripura and Sikkim was at over 90 per cent, but in the other northeastern states this was on an average only at 30 per cent. "The situation is extremely bad in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram."
Gupta, who was here to address a two-day workshop on "Digital Transformation and Automation of PDS Operations", said that the Central government had asked all the northeastern states to complete digitisation of ration cards and computerisation of PDS by June this year.
He said the Centre had introduced "Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS)" to integrate the PDS system, portals of states and Union Territories with the Central System and portals, introduction of National Portability and de-duplication of ration cards and beneficiaries.
"The new scheme would bring more transparency and efficiency in the distribution of food grains as it would improve the mechanism to identify fake and duplicate ration cards and provide the option to PDS beneficiaries to lift their entitled food grains from Fair Price Shops of their choice.
"Under the 'End to End Computerisation of PDS Operations', financial and technical assistance is being provided to states and Union Territories. For the northeastern states, the funding pattern is on a 90:10 ratio, where 90 percent of the total expenditure was borne by the Centre and 10 percent contributed by the state concerned," the official added.
To implement the 'End to End Computerisation of PDS Operations' and IM-PDS, the central government has constituted an Empowered Committee.
The PDS has been operated with a network of about 50,000 Fair Price Shops in the northeastern states. The operation is carried out under the joint responsibility of the central and state governments.
The Food Corporation of India is the main supplier of food grains and other items for the PDS.
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UP CM Adityanath orders strict monitoring of police's infra projects
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath has stressed the importance of maintaining quality and adhering to deadlines in the construction of police lines, transit hostels, and training institutions under the home department.
Chairing a meeting at his official residence on Thursday, the chief minister directed that these projects be reviewed regularly at various administrative levels to ensure progress, according to an official statement.
Adityanath emphasised that a secretary-level official from the home department should conduct weekly reviews, while the additional chief secretary should conduct fortnightly reviews.
He added that monitoring responsibilities should also extend to district, range, and zonal police officers.
Highlighting accountability, the chief minister ordered a monthly third-party audit by technical institutes for all projects exceeding Rs 50 crore. This audit should include on-site verification and photographic evidence submitted alongside the report, the statement said.
Adityanath also underscored the need for experienced professionals in the construction process, suggesting the involvement of retired engineers or proficient professionals from reputed technical institutions, if necessary.
He further directed that no changes should be made to the approved project design after work has begun, except under unavoidable circumstances and with prior approval from the authorities.
For high-rise buildings, the chief minister instructed that elevators be made mandatory and a dedicated corpus fund be established for their maintenance.
Reviewing budget allocations and project progress zone-wise, Adityanath expressed his commitment to improving housing facilities for field officers.
Multi-storey residential buildings are being constructed in police lines for this purpose, as per the statement.
The chief minister pointed out that districts like Sambhal, Hapur, Chandauli, Auraiya, Amroha and Shamli currently lack permanent police lines, and their construction is underway to enhance operational efficiency.
He also said a transit hostel with four blocks at Aligarh Police Line will be completed by April 2025.
The State Firefighting Training College in Unnao and residential and non-residential facilities for the Veerangana Uda Devi Women Police Battalion in Lucknow must see accelerated progress, he directed the officials concerned.
Adityanath also called for the timely completion of significant projects, including doubling the capacity of police training facilities in Moradabad, Meerut, Gorakhpur, and Sitapur.
The chief minister issued similar instructions for establishing new PAC battalions in Gautam Buddh Nagar and Shamli, and for constructing forensic labs in Ayodhya and residential police training schools in Meerut and Badaun for the women PAC Battalion in Gorakhpur.
He further directed the authorities to take strict action against contractors failing to meet contractual obligations, including issuing notices and blacklisting, if necessary.
