What are the reformative steps taken by the government to make food grain distribution system more effective? (250 words)
The food grain distribution system, also known as the Public Distribution System (PDS), is a vital component of India’s food security system. The government has taken several reformative steps to make the food grain distribution system more effective, including:
- Digitization: The government has implemented the end-to-end computerization of the PDS to increase transparency and reduce corruption.
- Aadhaar linkage: The government has made Aadhaar linkage mandatory for availing PDS benefits to ensure that food grains reach the intended beneficiaries.
- Targeted distribution: The government has implemented a targeted distribution system to provide food grains only to the intended beneficiaries based on their socio-economic status.
- National Food Security Act (NFSA): The government has enacted the NFSA to provide legal entitlement to subsidized food grains to 67% of the population.
- Centralized procurement: The government has centralized the procurement of food grains to ensure that the quality of food grains is consistent and to reduce the burden on state governments.
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): The government has implemented DBT in a few states to provide cash transfers in lieu of food grains to reduce leakages and ensure that beneficiaries have a choice in the market.
- Fortified food grains: The government has introduced the fortification of food grains with essential nutrients such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 to improve the nutritional value of the food grains distributed.
- Modernization of storage facilities: The government has initiated the modernization of storage facilities to reduce wastage and ensure that food grains are stored in a hygienic and safe environment.
- Reforms in procurement: The government has introduced several reforms in procurement, including the provision of minimum support prices, introduction of electronic auctions, and the use of quality parameters to ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their produce.
In conclusion, the government has taken several reformative steps to make the food grain distribution system more effective. These include digitization, Aadhaar linkage, targeted distribution, enactment of the NFSA, centralized procurement, DBT, fortification of food grains, modernization of storage facilities, and procurement reforms. These measures have helped to increase transparency, reduce corruption, ensure that food grains reach the intended beneficiaries, and improve the nutritional value of food grains distributed.
