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Public Distribution System
Tamil Nadu Government is implementing Universal Public Distribution System (UPDS) and no exclusion is made based on the income criteria. The Hon'ble Chief Minister has made the universal public distribution system 'poor friendly' by ordering rice at free of cost under public distribution system to all eligible card holders from 01.06.2011
Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation procures rice and other essential commodities required for public distribution system from Food Corporation of India and through tenders. Distribution of commodities through fair price shops is being carried out by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and the Cooperative societes.
The Public Distribution System is implemented through 33,222 fair price shops functioning under the various agencies are as follows:-
Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation lifts essential commodities from Food Corporation of India and stores them in 226 operational godowns located all over the state. From the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation operational godowns, stocks are moved by lead Cooperative Societies / self lifting societies and delivered at the doorsteps of fair price shops. Similarly, Sugar is moved by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation from the respective Cooperative / Private Sugar Mills and distributed through its operational godowns. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation also procures various other essential commodities for Special Public Distribution System directly from the market through tenders and also through designated Government of India agencies. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and Cooperatives lift kerosene from wholesale dealers of the oil companies
The details of family cards in circulation in Tamil Nadu are as follows:
Issue of family cards to eligible families is a continuous process and this Government have issued necessary instructions to the Principal Commissioner and Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection to issue cards without delay. At the same time, bogus cards are also being eliminated.
Application form for applying new family card has been prescribed by Government and can be downloaded from Civil Supplies Department website www.consumer.tn.gov.in
Rice is being distributed to the family card holders who have exercised option for rice and to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana Card holders. Rice is supplied free of cost with effect from 01.06.2011
The Present Monthly Allotment of Rice and Issue Price for the rice allotted from the Central pool through Food Corporation of India are as under
Government of India allots levy sugar on monthly basis specifying quantities to be released by each sugar mill from Tamil Nadu and Pondichery. The allotment thus received is sub-allocated to various districts. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation is lifting sugar from the designated sugar mills for distribution under public distribution system. The average monthly allotment of levy sugar at levy rates by Government of India is 10,833.50 MTs. Since the allotment of levy sugar received Government of India is insufficient to meet the requirement of card holders, the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation is purchasing non levy sugar from open market. The average supply of sugar to card holders is 35,133 metric tonnes per month. The quantity of sugar sold to card holders is on the increase as the card holders prefer to buy sugar under public distribution system in view of the high price ruling in the open market. The difference in the cost towards the open market price and the issue price of public distribution system is met by the Government from food subsidy. The subsidy provided by Government of Tamil Nadu for non-levy sugar stand at Rs. 538.00 crore.
The Government of India has allocated 13,783 metric tonnes of wheat per month to Tamil Nadu under targeted Public distribution system for the period from April 2012 to March 2013. The wheat is meant for supply to the eligible persons under Antyodaya Anna Yojana / Below Poverty Line. The Government of India have also released special adho additional allocation of 34,890 metric tonnes of wheat to Tamil Nadu for Above Poverty line families under targeted Public distribution system at a cost of Rs. 8.45 per Kg. The supply level of wheat is 10 kg. per card per month for District Headquarters and 5 Kg. per card per month for other places.
The monthly allotment of kerosene to Tamil Nadu by Government of India which stood at 52,806 kilo litre in April 2011 has been brought down by Government of India to 39,429 kilo litre in April 2012. Eventhough, the reduced quantity amounts to 60.53% of the State’s requirment of 65,140 kilo litre of kerosene, the Government is taking necessary measures for equitable distribution of kerosene to cardholders. Tokens are issued to the cardholders who did not get kerosene at the public distribution system shops. Such of those persons to whom tokens have been issued, are supplied kerosene on priority during the subsequent month. The action taken by the Government to speed up the stamping of LPG connection details in family cards has helped in saving a quantity of 1,560 kilo litre of kerosene and this is redistributed to eligible card holders.
Kerosene is being supplied under public distribution system only to cardholders who do not have LPG connections and cardholders with one cylinder LPG connection. The scale of supply of kerosene ranges from 3 litres to 15 litres per month to no LPG card holders depending upon their area of residence. In respect of cardholders with one LPG connection, irrespective of area of their residence, 3 litres of kerosene. per month is being supplied. The retail selling price of kerosene to cardholders ranges from Rs. 13.60 to 14.20 per litre depending upon the distance from the terminal.
To streamline distribution of Kerosene, retail bunks for kerosene have been established. A kerosene bunk normally serves 5,000 to 15,000 family cards. Distribution through kerosene bunks ensures assured availability of the stock throughout the month, besides ensuring supply to cardholders in correct measure. At present there are 312 kerosene bunks, of which 269 function under co-operatives and 43 under Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. All the kerosenebunks are provided with hand held billing machines
Antyodaya Anna Yojana Scheme (AAY) is being implemented in our State. Even though, there is no classification under this scheme,the poorest of poor are targeted for the issue of Antyodaya Anna Yojana cards. This has now been expanded by the Government of India based on the directions of the Supreme Court of India. The Antyodaya Anna Yojana family cards are eligible for 35 kgs. of rice per month and rice is distributed free of cost to these family Cardholders only in this State, despite the fact that the Government of India has stipulated cost at Rs.3 per kg. for this scheme.
The following categories of persons / families have been targeted under this scheme: Ø Widows, terminally ill persons, disabled persons, persons aged 60 years and above with no family or societal support or assured means of subsistence. Ø All primitive tribal households. Ø HIV positive / affected, leprosy affected persons, urban homeless.
Under Public Distribution system, rice is distibuted free of cost. Wheat, Sugar and Kerosene are being distributed at subsidised prices.
Under special public distribution system, toor dhall, urid dhall and fortified palmolein oil are being distributed at subsidised price. The details of issue price and subsidy for the commodities under special public distribution system are as under
Efforts are made to monitor the movement of stocks from Food Corporation of India depots to TNCSC Ltd taluk operational godowns and then to PDS outlets. Route charts are followed for movement from Taluk godowns and shops which are being intercepted and inspected by various teams.
General inspections and monitoring of Public Distribution System is carried out by following agencies: • District Collectors • Civil Supplies Department • Co-operatives/TNCSC Ltd. Officials in their respective shops. Inspections are carried at godowns, shops and also enroute movements.
The system of universal Public Distribution System followed in Tamil Nadu with its effective and diligent mechanism of implementation has contributed to a great extent in stabilising the food grain price even during the drought years. |
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