NEW DELHI, Oct 12:
The Centre is working on a solution to ensure that poor get benefits like free medicines and check-ups in speciality Government hospitals on the basis of their BPL ration cards while eliminating income tax payers and top officials from the ambit of PDS.
The new moves are aimed at better targeting of subsidies which the Government wants should reach the needy and the deserving.
“This issue is under consideration. We are trying to find some workable solution to ensure Below Poverty Line (BPL) category people can avail other facilities like free medicines with ease on the basis of a ration card,” says Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.
He said in an interview that the poor are facing problems, especially in those states where the new food law has been implemented.
The Minister was asked whether the Government will take steps to ensure that new ration card serves as an ID card for other benefits.
Meanwhile, the Government is working on plans to take out income tax payers and ranking officials in the Government out of the ambit of Public Distribution System (PDS).
The Modi Government has asked States to try such a scheme and Paswan will be discussing the issue with them.
It has also given enough signals that the much-touted welfare food security programme of the UPA Government will not be shelved.
In fact, plans are afoot to fine-tune the scheme totarget the beneficiaries in a better way and address the foodgrains entitlement, a sensitive issue raised by states.
“It is possible. We are thinking on these lines. I believe that instead of identifying poor beneficiaries, it would be better to identify those who can be excluded from the scheme,” he said.
He was asked whether the Government has any plans to implement the much-discussed idea of excluding income tax payers from the ambit of PDS benefits.
The Minister cited the case of Madhya Pradesh Government already implementing a scheme on these lines.
“Class I and II officers and income tax payers are kept out of the ambit of PDS benefits in the state. We have asked all states to try this. I will discuss this issue with the State Governments,” he said.
At the same time, Paswan also expressed dissatisfaction over operation of PDS. “The benefit that should reach the poor is not reaching. There are many complaints about PDS.”
Prior to the new food security law, ration cards served as identity cards to the below poverty line (BPL) families for not only getting highly subsidised foodgrains but also Government benefits meant for BPL people. (PTI)
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