Yet another glaring irregularity detected by the CAG in the functioning of the Consumer Affairs Public Distribution (CAPD), has rattled the Legislative Assembly when the report was placed on the table of both the Houses. This blatant irregularity has happened during the previous Government and has come to light in the recent report of CAG. This time main focus is on the list of BPL consumers to whom rations are provided under special provisions for this category.
Government of India has very clearly categorized the BPL sections of people. It has laid down the criterion for defining a family as Below Poverty Line. They are supplied ration at subsidized rates since their purchasing capacity is weak enough to stand by itself. Comprehensive instructions have been conveyed to the CAPD of the J&K State through proper channel of the formula of enlisting the BPL families and regularizing them for receipt of subsidized ration, atta, rice and sugar. In a previous audit report, the CAG had found that the norms for declaring a family BPL were not strictly adhered to in J&K State and as such the CAPD was asked to revise the list in the light of the criterion laid down. Obviously, now the CAG examining the status of BPL in the State, found to its surprise and dismay that the list had not been revised. This is gross violence of the rules and the directions which the CAG has taken a serious note of.
It has found that CAPD has failed to strengthen the Public Distribution System, which is meant to benefit the targeted people. The CAG has come to the conclusion that 26 per cent of the population on the basis of census report of 2011 has remained out of the Targeted Public Distribution System. Why such a large percentage of population remained out of the system is a matter that should be probed into and brought to the notice of the law makers. Was it a deliberate attempt of excluding them or is there any system failure leading to the exclusion of such a large chunk of population. This in itself is a serious issue because many motives can be attributed to this out of the way behaviour of the functionaries of CAPD.
We have said that the CAPD failed to revise the BPL list. According to information available to us, food grains worth Rs 17.89 crore were supplied to ineligible families at the cost of eligible and deserving families. This is blatant misuse of the facility provided by the state to weaker sections of society. It means that CAPD has been trying to defeat the very purpose for which the BPL scheme was introduced by the Union Government. To rub salt into the wound of deserving BPL families, the CAPD did another criminal act in thehope that it would not be detected by the authorities. The Centre allocated 1.09 lakh metric tons additional adhoc food grains to be distributed among such BPL families as had not been covered by the BPL scheme. The CAPD, instead of distributing the quantity of food grains to the left out section, distributed it among the existing BPL card holders during 2010-12.
Another item that has led to displeasure of the CAG with the CAPD is of accounts remaining in arrears since 1973-74 for the divisions of Kashmir and Jammu. There is a prescribed system of submitting accounts for a particular year to entitle the State to ask for supply of food grains for the next financial year. CAG has noted that CAPD has put submission of accounts for the financial year 1973-74into Accounts Arrears column. In normal cases the departments are required to prepare proforma account immediately after the close of each financial year not later than June 1 for certification. CAPD has not fulfilled this requirement also. Again the CAG reports that department released Rs 2932.64 crore to Food Corporation of India (for 2010-15) but the department had not carried out any reconciliation with the Corporation to ascertain the extent of actual advance payment made and quantum of food grains lifted. This clearly gives rise to doubts about corruption and misuse of funds both of which are among cognizable crimes.
We desist from going deeper in the details of irregularities pointed out by CAG. All that one can say is that CAPD has been under the scanner of media for quite some time.
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