SME Times News Bureau | 02 Nov, 2009
Aiming to bring transparency to the public distribution system (PDS), the Madhya Pradesh government is to involve the consumers in checking the quantity and quality of foodgrains in PDS shops every month, an official said.

The changes are being implemented under the amended Distribution and Control Order, state Principal Secretary (Food and Civil Supplies) Ashok Das told IANS.

"Foolproof arrangements of vigilance and checking are being made under which every PDS shop in the rural as well as urban areas will be checked every month. The checking will be undertaken under a roster for which the district collectors have been made directly responsible," Das told IANS.

The collectors, Das said, will ensure checking of fair price shops at least once every month while the executive staff of the revenue, food and cooperative departments will undertake the checking under a roster fixed by the state government.

The collectors will also review and inspect reports of lifting and distribution of quota of food grains, sugar, kerosene and other PDS commodities every month.

Besides, new vigilance committees will be constituted at fair price shops, development blocks, district and state levels, and the existing ones will be made more effective.

"The most important arrangement in the new public distribution system is that now even consumers will be able to take part in this process. They can check the quantity and quality of food grains," said the official.