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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Crack down on PDS anomalies in UP: Pause between transactions a must, sugar overpricing under lens
In a bid to streamline the public distribution system (PDS), the Uttar Pradesh government has introduced two important measures to tackle irregularities in ration distribution by curbing bogus transactions and exposing overcharging, shortchanging and underweighing etc. As a part of the first measure, the government has mandated a minimum one-minute pause between two consecutive transactions made by any ration dealer through the electronic Point-of-Sale (ePOS) device. 'Much like the protocol followed in ATM transactions, we have mandated the one-minute interval between the consecutive transactions by a ration dealer to prevent bogus or proxy entries which have long plagued the fair price shop network across the state,' principal secretary, food and civil supplies, Ranvir Prasad said. According to other officials, some dealers were misusing the POS system to quickly process multiple transactions—sometimes without the actual beneficiaries being present—by exploiting saved biometric data or other means. 'The idea is to ensure that every transaction is genuine and done in real time. A mandatory pause between transactions makes it difficult to carry out mass bogus entries and helps detect suspicious behaviour,' said a senior official in the food and civil supplies department. However, the more disturbing issue has surfaced through a new initiative launched to take direct feedback from the ration beneficiaries. Using a random calling system, the department has begun reaching out to people who collect rations to get their on-ground experiences. Early feedback has revealed a worrying pattern. Many ration dealers are overcharging poor families while distributing subsidised sugar to them. Households covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), a scheme meant for the poorest of the poor. Over 40 lakh AAY families across Uttar Pradesh are entitled to get three kg of sugar every three months at subsidised rates of ₹18 per kg. But the feedback has shown that several dealers are asking for more money than the official price. 'We have developed a new system under which we make random calls to beneficiaries asking them a few pointed questions like if their ration dealer behaves properly, dispenses full quantity, charges the right price etc,' Prasad said. 'Some citizens contacted randomly have complained about their being overcharged for sugar while many others complained about under-weighing ration' he added. He said action on all the complaints about shortchanging, weighing less than required, misbehaviour and overpricing would be taken. 'District officials have been directed to verify the complaints and take immediate corrective steps,' Prasad added.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Tribal woman spends half of her widow pension to receive it
1 2 3 4 5 Berhampur: A 70-year-old woman from tribal-dominated Gajapati district spends around Rs 500 to Rs 600 every month to receive Rs 1,000 as her widow pension under the state-sponsored Madhu Babu Pension Scheme (MBPS). Bagi Sabar of Kaithapada village under Mohana block's Govindapur panchayat, travels to Chhelagada panchayat in R Udayagiri block, about 60 km away, in an auto-rickhshaw to collect her pension from the panchayat office every month. Since there is no direct communication from her village, Kaithapada to Chhelagada, she hires an auto-rickhshaw to go to the panchayat office to get the pension. While the auto-rickhshaw charged around Rs 400 to Rs 500, she also spends money on the person who accompanies her, as she is unable to go alone due to old age. Sources said Bagi's family resided in Chhelagada for several years after moving from Kaithapada, where her husband, Suratana Sabar, was into business. After her husband's death, the woman, along with her two sons, one of whom is mentally ill, stayed in Chhelagada. Her name was enrolled in the list of beneficiaries in MBPS in R Udayagiri panchayat. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo She, however, shifted to her own village, Kaithapada, while her sons lived separately. As the pension is her only source of income, she goes to Chhelagada accompanied by a person to collect her pension every month. The elderly woman receives free food grains under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme from her own panchayat in Govindapur. Her other communication address is also in Kaithapada. "I have requested the panchayat officials at Chhelagada to shift my pension account to Govindapur so that I can receive my monthly pension easily," she said. Her request is yet to be granted, she added. "Though she moved out of the panchayat several years ago, the govt record is yet to be updated about her relocation. Therefore, her pension continues to be disbursed in Chhelagada," said an officer. Collector (Gajapati) Bijay Kumar Dash said he would direct the concerned block development officers to resolve the matter. "There is no problem in shifting the name of a beneficiary under MBPS from one block or panchayat to another block and panchayat," he said.
Hans India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Better living conditions for Polavaram evacuees promised
Eluru / Battaigudem / Jilugumilli: State Civil Supplies Minister and District In-charge Minister Nadendla Manohar said that a special plan will be formulated and implemented to provide better living conditions to the Polavaram Project displaced persons. He handed over Antyodaya Anna Yojana cards to the displaced persons at R&R Colony in Reddy Ganapavaram of Buttaigudem mandal on Tuesday. On the occasion, the Minister enquired about the problems of the displaced persons in the colony. Speaking on the occasion, he said that his government will never forget the sacrifices of the 35,000 displaced persons who vacated their lands for the construction of the most prestigious national multipurpose irrigation project, the Polavaram Project, and the government will support them in every way. Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu during his recent visit to Polavaram, responded positively to the problems of the displaced and ordered that steps be taken to ensure justice to the displaced. He said that the displaced are being provided with Antyodaya Anna Yojana cards for food security and they would get 35 kg of rice free of cost every month. He said that employment opportunities will be provided to the youth of the displaced families and a special survey will be conducted for this. The Minister instructed the officials to provide roads, drainage, drinking water, education, medical and other basic facilities in the rehabilitation colony within six months. The Minister instructed the officials to ensure that drinking water problems do not arise in the colonies under any circumstances and to supply water through tankers if necessary. The Minister said that Rs 27 crore has already been spent on road development in the Polavaram constituency in the last financial year and another Rs 20 crore will be sanctioned in the current financial year. He said that the displaced will be provided with full compensation as per the rules. He said that 4.64 crore rice card holders in the state are being provided with rice every month. The minister said that the issuance of new ration cards will be started soon. He said that the coalition government is giving equal priority to welfare as well as development and is providing Rs 2,700 crore as pension to 63 lakh people in the state every month. He said that the Talliki Vandanam scheme will be implemented from the next academic year. After participating in the programmes organised in Reddy Ganapavaram and Rautugudem villages on Tuesday for a two-day tour of Polavaram constituency, Minister Nadendla Manohar arrived at Barrinkalapadu to inaugurate Polavaram MLA Chirri Balaraju's camp office. The tribal people welcomed him with traditional tribal dances and music. The minister, who was impressed by their dance, wore the horns and danced with them. MLA Chirri Balaraju's family also participated in the joy of the tribals. State Civil Supplies Commissioner Saurabh Gaur, District Collector K Vetri Selvi, Joint Collector P Dhatri Reddy, ITDA PO Ramulu Nayak, Unguturu MLA Pathsamatla Dharmaraju, Tricar Chairman Boragam Srinivas, RTC Zonal Chairman Reddy Appalanaidu, RDO MV Ramana, Tahsildar Achyut, Jana Sena leaders Kotikalapudi Govindaraju, Karatam Sai, Gaddamanugu Ravi, local public representatives, and others participated in the programme.
