The West Bengal government has recently launched the ‘Duare Ration’ or ‘Ration at Doorstep’ scheme. This is a pioneering initiative that aims to deliver subsidised food grains to people’s homes via the Public Distribution System (PDS). A mobile application named “Khadya Sathi: Amar Ration Mobile App” has also been unveiled to assist individuals in applying for ration cards.
Key Aspects of the ‘Duare Ration’ Scheme
Under the ‘Duare Ration’ scheme, ration dealers will deliver subsidised food grains directly to the beneficiaries’ homes. The state of West Bengal has approximately 21,000 ration dealers who are expected to implement this service. To aid in this process, the state government is set to provide a subsidy of Rs. 1 lakh per dealer for the purchase of delivery vehicles. These dealers are also permitted to hire two assistants, with half of their salaries being funded by the state government.
For the convenience of residents, each delivery vehicle shall be parked at a strategic location within a neighbourhood. This arrangement guarantees that local families do not need to walk more than 500 metres to receive their rations. With these measures in place, it is estimated that nearly 100 million residents of West Bengal will benefit from this scheme.
An Overview of the Public Distribution System
The Public Distribution System (PDS) is an essential governmental programme designed to provide subsidised food and other necessities to India’s poorer populations. This programme makes food staples, grains, and some non-food items available at reduced prices through a network of Fair Price Shops (FPS) or Ration Shops.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution oversees the PDS. It works in collaboration with both state and central governments to procure, transport, and distribute food grains and other essential goods to communities living under or just above the poverty line.
The Central Government procures food grains from farmers at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) and then sells them to states at central issue prices. The State Government ensures that these rations reach the intended recipients via a system of ration cards and shops.
Commodities being Distributed Under PDS
Under the PDS, primary commodities like wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene are allocated to the States/Union Territories (UTs) for distribution. Some states and UTs also distribute additional consumable items like pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, and spices through PDS outlets.
As per the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population are legally entitled to receive subsidised food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.
The recently launched ‘Duare Ration’ scheme in West Bengal is a significant effort towards ensuring that every citizen has access to essential commodities irrespective of their economic standing. This initiative is expected to be a significant boost to the existing PDS and is estimated to benefit a sizeable proportion of the state’s population.