Prabhat Ranjan Deen
Lucknow, Mar 23: Once seen as the most corrupt state in ration distribution, Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath has redefined the Public Distribution System (PDS) by becoming India’s first state to achieve more than 99 percent food distribution through a transparent biometrics identification system.
Effective and transparent delivery of ration to 15 crore poor and needy people of the state throughout the ongoing novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has been one of the great achievements of Yogi Adityanath during his first term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. The delivery of ration to poor and needy remained totally absent during the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party Governments in the past in the state due to involvement of vested interests leading to a series of food scams.
While the Yogi-led BJP Government ensured transparency in food distribution, during the two-decade-long SP-BSP rule in UP, the state faced several high-level probes into various multi-crore PDS scams. The erstwhile Samajwadi Party (SP) government and its operatives plagued the stages of food procurement, supply and distribution with large scale irregularities. The CBI is still investigating the Rs 425 crore foodgrain scam that took place during the SP’s regime. Many SP leaders, kotedaars (person in charge of the ration shop who distributes ration as per the government specified quota) and officials have been found involved in this food scams. Due to the scams during previous governments, UP topped the list of PDS corruption cases, however, once the state switched to a transparent distribution process, the system saw a sea change.
During SP’s rule, the Kotedaars, along with the leaders, used to sell the ration of the poor to the traders. The scams that used to take place in many districts of UP, exposed the nexus of leaders, kotedaars and officers who used to deprive the poor, needy and downtrodden of basics like food. As soon as Yogi Adityanath took over the reins of Uttar Pradesh as the Chief Minister, bringing in transparency and ensuring timely distribution of foodgrains, were among the first things that were done. Under the revamped PDS system, people are being given ration through a transparent biometrics identification system. Resultantly, the state government has also made a record in the country by distributing more than 99 percent ration to the needy.
According to the data by the government, under the National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA) in UP, about 14.60 crore beneficiaries are getting food grains through a 100 percent transparent digital process. Officials claim that the electronic point of sale machines (ePOS) are playing an important role, which was installed to prevent the disturbance in ration distribution.
The introduction of a hi-tech online system by the government to prevent ration card disturbances has enabled the people to get food in a hassle-free manner through biometrics. According to the data of the Food Department, there are about 3,37,05,755 ration card holders in the state. Of these, free ration is being given by the government to 96 percent card holders under the PMGKAY scheme.
During the Covid-affected period, this system emerged as a boon for the poor and destitute people in the state. Due to the efforts by the Yogi Government, Uttar Pradesh also became the first state in the country to provide double dose of free ration to more than 15 crore people through around 80,000 rations shops spread over 826 blocks in 75 districts of the state, ensuring delivery of ration to the right beneficiary.
Besides, the Yogi Government has not only provided ration twice a month but also added refined oil, pulses and salt to the list of food items to be distributed to the people, which is in itself a major move so far as bringing relief to the people is concerned.
Follow our WhatsApp channel