By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government is waiting for the Centre to release the sanctioned amount of Rs 43 crore to initiate the proposed computerization of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the State.
“A meeting in this connection would be held in New Delhi on Monday,” Principal Secretary of Food and Civil Supplies, PW Ingty, told The Shillong Times here on Sunday.
Ingty also informed that Commissioner and Secretary, MHK Marak, and NIC senior technical officer, Timothy Dkhar, have left for Delhi to attend the meeting.
“We would be able to know the actual status of the sanctioned amount once the two officers return,” he said.
Ingty said that the department at the moment is trying to digitalize the data of the PDS consumers.
Official sources, however, informed that one of the major components of this computerization is setting up of control rooms to closely monitor the stock in the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns and the amount of food items being lifted by the wholesalers.
“We would also be close monitoring the stocks which are being lifted by the Fair Price Shop owners and subsequent delivery to the beneficiaries through the digitalized network,” official sources said.
Food and Civil Supplies department is also hopeful that with this new computerised system there would be limited scope to commit any malpractices under the PDS.
While ruling out the possibilities of diversion of the PDS items once the system is in place, official sources said, “The beneficiaries would be largely benefitted once the computerisation system comes into effect.”
Earlier, it was reported that the Prime Minister’s Office has taken a keen interest in the computerisation process of PDS system across the country and is taking day-to-day stock of the progress made by each state and union territory in this regard.
The Supreme Court had also directed the various States Government to closely work with the Centre in computerising the PDS to help reduce diversion of food grain.