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One-third of grains in PDS being siphoned, says IEO
For disbursing food grains worth a rupee, the government spends Rs 3.65 but more than one-third of it gets siphoned off, a government body said on Wednesday.
For disbursing food grains worth a rupee, the government spends Rs 3.65 but more than one-third of it gets siphoned off, a government body said on Wednesday.
The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), which would be conducting a study on the government's Public Distribution System (PDS), said the government's effort to achieve "food" and "nutritional security" could not be achieved because of flaws in the system.
"We are working on government's programmes – the PDS and the programme to reduce maternal mortality. We will submit out interim report on the two programmes during this summer," Director General of Independent Evaluation Office Ajay Chhibber said, after the IEO was officially launched.
The Union Cabinet had approved the settings up the IEO in November 2010 to undertake impartial and objective assessment of various public programmes and improve the effectiveness of public interventions.
The IEO also said although there was significant decline in maternal mortality rate (MMR) regional disparities were huge. The rate was as high as 300 per 100,000 live births in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Assam. "Over two million children die each year before they reach 20 days," the office said, adding that states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have succeeded in bringing MMR down to around 100 per 100,000 live births.
