CHENNAI: Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection and Price Control -- all these portfolios come under the Food minister and the Food Department has been one of the most vital departments since Independence. Mismanagement of this department has decided the fate of many a government at the hustings. In fact in the recently concluded Assembly elections, rise in prices of essential commodities had played a key role in defeating the party that was in power.From June 1 onwards, the State government will be providing 20kg of rice free of cost to all family card-holders, to fulfill one of the chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s election promises and Food Department officials are making swift arrangements in this regard.The previous DMK regime was severely criticised for the rampant smuggling of PDS rice to neighbouring districts. Despite the seizure of huge quantities of rice, the smuggling continued. As Opposition Leader, Jayalalithaa went hammer and tongs against the DMK government on this matter. Now, as CM, she should take stern measures to check this.The next point to take a note of is ensuring the quality of commodities sold through the PDS. The previous government took some steps to set this problem right. However, it is a fact that rice bought in ration stores is mostly used for making dosa and idli batter instead of for eating as a main meal. This shortcoming should be set right from the very beginning of the distribution of the free rice.To ensure the reach of the 20kg free rice to the right people – the poor and downtrodden – the government should ruthlessly eliminate fake ration cards. During the 2001-06 AIADMK regime, certain steps were taken to prevent this, such as issuing honorary cards to those who don’t to receive PDS rice but require the cards for identification purposes. But still, fake cards continue to exist and are used to take away commodities that are meant for the poor. By eliminating fake cards, the government can make PDS commodities available to all genuine card-holders. This measure would also help the government reduce the Food Subsidy which now stands at around Rs 4,600 crore per annum.Despite the fact that the previous DMK regime had distributed PDS rice at Rs 1 per kg, the price had risen dramatically in the open market. Similarly, prices of other essential commodities including edible oils and pulses had also gone up making it very hard for the middle-class to make both ends meet.The other complaint from family card-holders is that PDS commodities are not available through the month. The new government should see to it that there is no such complaint in future.
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