UP govt to start doorstep delivery of food stock to ration dealers

The government has identified one block in each district for the implementation of the new scheme after the positive results of a pilot project launched in a few blocks in three districts

To check pilferage in the long supply chain, the Uttar Pradesh government is introducing a new system of doorstep delivery of food stocks directly to ration dealers under the public distribution system (PDS) from Monday.

Under, the new system, the food grains will travel directly from FCI godowns to the ration dealers. (Representational Image)

The government has identified one block in each district for the implementation of the new scheme after the positive results of a pilot project launched in a few blocks in three districts.

“We tried the pilot project in two blocks each in Prayagraj, Moradabad, and Banda. Now, after the success of the project, the government has decided to implement the scheme in one block of each district from Monday,” said AK Singh, additional commissioner, food and civil supplies.

“Later, the government may decide to replicate the model for all the blocks across the state.”

Under, the new system, the food grains will travel directly from FCI godowns to the ration dealers.

In most cases, ration dealers have to travel to block godowns to get the monthly quota while in some cases, the stock is delivered to them by the block godowns. In either case, the government used to pay the cost at the rate of Rs 15-18 per quintal, depending on the distance between a dealer’s shop and block godown.

The new system, according to officials, may be helpful for the government in saving these expenses apart from curbing leakages in the long supply chain.

The department of food and civil supplies has also prepared software to run and monitor the new system to ensure transparent transactions.

“Soon after a delivery van starts from an FCI godown, the ration dealer concerned will get a message on his registered mobile number informing him about the same including exact quantity loaded and to be delivered. The delivery man will deliver the rations to the dealer, only after he feeds the OTP sent on his cell phone,” said Singh.

The delivery vehicles, he said, have been fitted with GPS devices, through which they would be under constant vigil from the control room. “We have also mapped the routes that the delivery vehicles are supposed to take to reach ration dealers. Any route diversion for them will get detected immediately,” he said.