PDS Scam - was West Bengal the only culprit ?
Those who live in Kolkata and West Bengal know what goes on there. But those live away from West Bengal but are still interested must have read and heard about the agitation against corrupt PDS dealers. In all cases the opposition sponsored agitation took law into their hands and vandalize shops and also houses. In some cases set fire to the houses.
Reason - these Dealers are CPI (M) supporters or relatives of leaders. As if this was some thing unique CPI (M) was resorting to. Govt. ordered investigations and dealers were fired where major irregularities were found. When I read about this and watched on TV, I was feeling highly ashamed that West Bengal was so corrupt that poor people are being deprived of their meals which Govt. with good intention subsidizes.
These agitations I discovered that was full of rhetoric but had no data. It was more chaos and disorder than any thing else. After I got over the initial shock,I started trying to sift through news which was dished out by the media. I realized slowly that if all these were happening for years,I did not see any reasin why this was not brought by TMC /Mamata Banerjee all these years and was noticed only after Singur and Nandigram started. I was getting convinced that there was veiled motive behind all the attacks.
Then suddenly I bumped on a News Item on The Times of India of Dec.23,2007 under the headline " 2.3 cr bogus ration cards in market ." It was shock trying to comprehend the magnitude of the problem. The next line said - "Despite Grain Imports,Faulty PDS Robs Poor Of Their Share ".
The story said - " The Study conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER ) has provided evidence which can perhaps confirm which some Ministers like P.Chidambaram and Sharad Pawar has been claiming that food grains are being diverted to Balack market and even smuggled into Bangladesh."
Bogus Ration Cards is not some thing which happened in last 3-5 years. This has been a source leakage of subsidized food grains. It is not only bogus ration cards,till recently food grains which
middle class or upper middle class was entitled but never utilized found its way to the black market.
Take a upper middle class area in Mumbai - like Palli Hill - Union Park area. I don't think any one living in that area ever bought the Rice and Wheat ever,some gave it away to maids ,others did not bother and were diverted to black Market. No one bothered.
Most would promptly blame Govt./Politicians/corrupt dealers but hold the Card owners equally responsible.I did not get Ration Card done when I moved from Mumbai to Delhi in 1995 and from Delhi to Nashik in 2001. But I have gone through hassles because we never had Ration Card and I had to finght my way.
The report gave some figures for bogus Cards. Let me quote the same and following are the data reported - major culprit states.
State Ghost Cards in Lakhs.
Uttar Pradesh 111.85
Rajasthan 24.38
Gujarat 11.53
Haryana 10.22
Madhya Pradesh 12.52
Maharshtra 10.14
" A back of the envelope calculation shows the economic dimension of the Economic fiddle. If entitlement 35 kg of food grains comprising wheat and rice for every family under the PDS is taken into account , the Ghost Cards can represent a potential diversion of 966 crore tonnes of food -grain each year ."
All of us are responsible for this. We can not pass on the buck to politicians,Govt.s , dealers only but public is equally responsible .
After I read this, I have been wondering why this has never been raised by Media ? Why did oppostion parties not taken up in the states which has featured in the report? Lastly why was this Mamata Banerjee brand of agitation started onle after Singur or Nandigram came up ?
Recently I was told by the Dy.Collector of Nashik District that Maharashtra Govt. has plugged the small leak by making the Ration Cards given to middle class upwards as just a document of identity and they are not entitled to any thing under PDS. But there is nothing which can stop these bogus cards.
Will Civil Society protest and stop this huge leakage Govt. resouces and poors of this Country are being robbed every week ,every month and we never say any thing. I know , I may again be accused of complaining but I am suggesting a solution too. The Solution is - let the Civil Society protest. Demand Media take it up. I am sure if seriously pushed,this racket can be busted .
This needs exposure and push.Can the ranked and celebrity bloggers take this issue up. Their blogs will get showcased and read by many. This will assist the cause.
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Mr.Ramesh,
I wish your wishes came true. What is leading to bogus cards will affect the Minimum wages going up and implementation of Minimum wages. I have no difficulty accepting your reccommended dumping of PDS. I am sure you would recommend "Food Coupons given to people who are without jobs and unemployment dole period runs out. Where is our "unemployment" money. It is unfortunate that we want to move to free market economy but we do not have even 5% of what a Country like USA has for people who do not have income.
A few more points - Reliance is not Corporate greed so much,it is the employees making money.
As regards telephone - Yes - prices have come down. Reality need little checking - there is gap between what is advertised and what is real life.
Thanks for your support.
Regards.
Ratan Datta
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Perfact. Mamanta Banerjee brand is idiotic brand indeed. She is not matured enough to understand large issues!
But, ultimately, proper availability of goods through PDS is a defeatist game. we can't play it till eternity. Reliance may be a profit greedy today, but moment he will have competition through similar type of outlets, we will see that consumer starting to get benefits! Various other examples prove it. Best is : Telephone industry!!! Today everyone is lining up at our homes to provied cheaper and better services as compared to 20 years ago when we used to line up in DOT office (local) and forced to pay bribes and still wait for 10 years to get connection!!
Minimum wage is very valid point!!! I agree. Only time can heal this with continuously increasing incomes through constant growth!!
PDS is opposite to it. It ensures reverse way, help vested interest and exploit poor and needy!! It is a system and hence can't be easily put to 'civil resistence'!!! SLowly we will have to replace it!
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Mr.Ramesh,
Thanks for visit and comments. Your views probably be the route if the Society did not have the responsibility to see if poor can get food. I realize free market can address some these corrupt practices but we do not have a few things what some of the free market economies like USA has. Compare what i hour Min wage in India can buy compared to USA.
Take a look at Reliance Fresh outlets - thought is noble - eliminate middlemen layers so that Farmer gets a better price and consumers get at lower price. What is happening - Reliance employees and franchisees and contractors making money the objectives are not met.
Hence- the assumptions that Govt.Officials,Politicians and multi layers of traders do not have a monopoly on corruption. I believe it is awareness and protest by the Civil Society will bring in some sanilty. Mamata Banerjee Brand of protest is not CIVIL and LEGITIMATE.
Regards.
Ratan Datta
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Dear Ratan ji
I appreciate that you have raised a very serious point! PDS is in mess since decades. Nexus of middle men, politicians, beauracrats and indifference of common man has caused it.
I view it differently. The very reason of keeping PDS intact is cause of its inefficiency. Mean: PDS mean 'channelising' goods of basic necessity throught multiple stages. That itself is a faulty design.
Basic necessity stuff should reach masses without any "multiple layer" system. It should be direct!
Unfortunately, again, I believe the reason is our 'socialistic' mindset: "That everything should be 'provided' by Govt." !! This open the door for inefficiency and corruption. The definition of PDS itself can not enforce 'efficiency, bonafide beneficiary and honesty.
It is taken as a tool by priviledged class to "oblige" the needy! A fuedal mindset, which is prevailing in Country even today!
We have to do away with it! There is NO such crisis in any other developed country because majority of basic necessaity stuff reaches masses through competitive market and hence every strata of society get it with good quality and price and that to readily!!
So, no matter what we try to 'amend' PDS it will NOT work! The "syptom" can NOT be eliminated if we treat the real disease itself!
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