CAG report on PDS in Chhattisgarh: People did not get the benefit of the food grain scheme under the central scheme during the Corona period

Raipur. Irregularities in the functioning of fair price shops have also been highlighted in the Comptroller and Auditor General of India report. The National Auditor, CAG has said that 167.32 lakh beneficiaries holding priority household ration cards in Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh were not given additional food grains under the central scheme during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report for the year ending 31 March 2021 states that the Government of India decided to distribute food grains to the poor in view of the economic difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was launched in March 2020. Under the scheme additional 5 kg free rice per person per month was to be provided for distribution to all the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act. Coverage under NFSA was to be done under two categories, which also included Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

Did not get the benefit of food grains scheme

167.32 lakh NFSA PHH beneficiaries in the state did not benefit from the additional support expected under the scheme. Government of India decided to give 5 kg free rice to every person. Apart from this, launched the Atmanirbhar Bharat Yojana to provide 1 kg free gram to each family of migrants/stranded migrants. Those who were not covered under NFSA or State PDS ration card scheme during the pandemic. However, the state government could not distribute free rice to 30,218 migrant/stranded persons and free gram to 20,395 migrant families identified under ANBS.

Social audit of ration shops not done

The CAG report also states that 177 fair price shops were jointly inspected. Along with this, in conversation with 1177 BPL beneficiaries, it was found that monthly inspection of 80 percent shops was not done by the department. Inspection register was also not maintained. Social audit of 98 per cent fair price shops was not done.

Negligence during the Corona period

After the launch of PMGKAY, the state government issued an order in April 2020 in terms of additional free rice quantity, revising the total quantity of rice to be provided to PHH beneficiaries. However, the revised quantum was either the same as before or slightly higher. The additional quantity of rice made available earlier to the beneficiaries by the State Government was withdrawn. Due to this, the beneficiaries of NFSA and CG Food Security Act did not get the benefit of additional rice of 5 kg per person over and above the existing entitlement.

did not get full benefit

The audit found that one in three members of NFSA-PHH ration card holder families did not get the benefit of additional rice. PHH cardholders with more than three members got the benefit of additional 3 kg rice instead of 5 kg per person. As envisaged under PMGKAY. A total of 31.05 lakh NFSA-PHH beneficiaries in the state were provided rice in the same quantity as they were getting before the implementation of PMGKAY.