Pilot project on computerisation of PDS launched

Bhubaneswar: In an effort to plug loopholes in the public distribution system (PDS), the Odisha government has taken up a pilot project to monitor the distribution of essential commodities.

Under the project, every transaction of commodities among the beneficiaries will be recorded in a mechanized system and the information can be stored in a remote server for future reference.

“The Fair Price Shop (FPS) Automation system will help us eliminate any irregularities by the distributors. Besides, we will also be able to track all the transactions sitting at one place,” Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare secretary Madhusudan Padhy said.

A technical device - thumb machine - will be installed in each PDS distribution centre. The device will give concrete report to the State Government on proper distribution of rice, wheat and kerosene.

Official sources said the automation system can also provide data on amount of commodities stored by the distributor.

“This will help prevent hoarding by the distributors,” an official stated.

The project, which has been undertaken in Dhauli gram panchayat on the outskirts of the State capital, will be implemented across the State.

“Machines will be installed in all 20,000 FPSs of the State. We are planning to invite tenders for the mechanized system next month. If everything goes well, all the shops will be having the computerised system by March 2017,” Padhi said.