Let us be honest in saying that the existing distribution system is very faulty and leaves much scope for corrupt practices. In fact only recently a big scam has been unearthed in the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System Department (CAPDS) in which hundreds of employees of the organization are allegedly involved in the scam, and inquiry is being conducted into the episode. Apart from this, there are other serious drawbacks in the existing system. There have been large scale complaints by consumers that very often the depots run out of supplies and they have to go back home empty handed. Then there are depots which are required to serve 1000 or even 1400 families. The result is that there is a large queue and consumers have to cool their heels for hours and even days before they are able to get rations. Thirdly some times sub-standard rations are also provided to the consumers and how that happens is not known. Recently there were protest rallies in some far flung areas of Doda and Rajouri districts where shortage of ration was acute and people had to starve.
Another major shortcoming in the system is that of providing ration like rice, wheat and sugar to the BPL category at low rates. More often than not private depot holders have been found bungling in this matter by harassing consumers in many ways. Reports of black marketing of Government provided ration have also come in.
Keeping this in view and also occasional the public resentment, it is reported that that the Government is contemplating a drastic reformation in the system. It is proposed to order closure of all private ration dealing shops in the State and in their place open about 7606 Government outlets throughout the State. This will be a major policy decision with far reaching implications. In the first place the Government will have to ensure infrastructural facilities like storage in districts and tehsils, space for retail outlets, manpower, uninterrupted transport system, proper checking and supervising arrangement and proper verification mechanism of consumers including their various categories like BPL etc. We are informed that the CAPD Department is already seized of these aspects and that it has taken some steps in the direction. For example more space is being looked for at district and tehsil levels for storing food items especially in winter zone where roads get blocked for some time during winter months. The department has drawn the estimate that it will require about 15000 hands to handle the distribution of ration at Government ration shops with a minimum of two persons at one depot. Thus avenues of employment will be thrown open on the youth.
While the public is likely to welcome the thinking at the Government level of putting an end to privatization of food supplies, it will have to take care of the private depot holders also who will lose their means of sustenance. The Government must devise methods of providing them minimum means of sustenance and this could be done in several ways. One is to employ the private depot holders as functionaries at the new Government ration distribution depots that are going to be opened. But if they are not willing to take the Government employment, then the Government should have a method of lending them bank loans on soft or nominal interest rate so that they can establish some other small scale business to maintain their families. Nothing should be done arbitrarily. It is also to be ensured that the dealings of the new Government outlets are fair and prompt and that they too do not succumb to underhand means and corruption. If that happens, then the entire idea of implementing this policy change will be defeated.
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