‘Duare Ration’ Scheme: WB | 17 Nov 2021

Why in News

Recently, the West Bengal government launched the ‘Duare Ration’ (ration at doorstep) scheme for providing food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) at the doorstep for the entire population of the State.

  • A mobile application, "Khadya Sathi: Amar Ration Mobile App" to help people apply for ration cards, was also launched.

Key Points

  • Under the scheme, dealers would deliver ration at the doorstep of the beneficiaries.
  • There are around 21000 rational dealers in the state and the government would provide a subsidy of Rs. 1 lakh to each dealer to purchase a delivery vehicle.
  • Ration dealers will also be allowed to recruit two assistants for which state would pay half their salaries.
  • Each vehicle would be parked at a convenient location in a neighbourhood so that residents need not walk more than 500 metres to avail the ration.
  • It is expected to benefit around 10 crores of people of the state.

Public Distribution System

  • It is a government managed process of ensuring that food, staples, grains and other necessities are being provided to the poorer sections of the society in India.
  • Food and some non-food items are provided at a subsidised rate through a chain of Fair Price Shops (FPS) or Ration Shops.
  • The system is managed by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
  • The state and the central governments work hand in hand to provide food grains and other essential items at low prices for communities that are under and just above the poverty line.
    • The Central Government takes the responsibility to procure, preserve, transport and allocate the resources.
    • The State Government ensures the setting up of a network of recognition and availability of these rations via cards and shops.
    • The centre procures food grains from farmers at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) and sells it to states at central issue prices.
  • Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution.
  • Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.
  • The National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013 legally entitles upto 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System.

Source: TH