DMs to undertake digitisation of ration distribution centres

DEHRADUN: After failing to receive a favourable response to its tender call for selecting companies for carrying out computerisation of the PDS system in the state, the Department of Food and Civil Supplies has now entrusted the task to the district magistrates to complete the task before February 2015.

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 31

After failing to receive a favourable response to its tender call for selecting companies for carrying out computerisation of the PDS system in the state, the Department of Food and Civil Supplies has now entrusted the task to the district magistrates to complete the task before February 2015.

In order that the Department of Food and Civil Supplies manages to launch the National Food Security scheme in the state by April, 2015, the computerisation of the PDS has been made mandatory by the Central Government. For completing the task, the state government has to undertake digitisation of ration cards, godowns and distribution centres.

The department had invited tenders, but only one company responded to its call. “According to the rules, at least three companies should have applied but that did not happen. If we had invited the tenders again, it would have taken two months and the April deadline would have been missed. As we are running short of time, it is not possible to start the process again. So the task has now been entrusted to the DMs,” said Ravi Nath Raman, Additional Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies.

Now, the districts have been asked to computerise their distribution centres. In all, 193 centres have been selected in the state.

Significantly, Uttarakhand had completed the digitisation of cards so as to roll off the scheme by July, 2014, but the Centre issued a directive asking the government to computerise the distribution centres before rolling the scheme.

“According to the NFS Act, it is not mandatory to first computerise the centres for rolling the scheme and several states, including Haryana, are already doing it. But we were held back and forced to continue with the previous targeted public distribution scheme (TPDS). Due to which we are being forced to procure rice and wheat at a higher price which is a burden on the state,” he said.

Raman said the state government had already fulfilled the norms of digitisation of 25 per cent of cards (that is 3 lakh) and opening the ration card in the name of the female head of the family.