PDS in a shambles in Bhawanipatna

Expressbuzz, 4th August, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: One fair price shop for more than 10,000 consumers of eight wards in Bhawanipatna speaks volumes about the sorry state of affairs of public distribution system (PDS) in the district headquarters town.
For one lakh population of the town there are 10 fair price shops which include three cooperative stores, six stores run by women SHGs and one Maitry shop run by Civil Supplies Corporation. The three cooperative stores look after two wards each, the SHGs one ward each while the Maitry shop covers eight wards of the town.
This sorry state of affairs has sparked resentment among the consumers. People queuing before the Maitry shop from early hours is a common sight.
Even schoolchildren remain in queue for the entire day to receive the quota of ration for their family. Law and order problems arise very often due to overcrowding at the fair price shops.
Basanti, an old woman, said it takes three to four days to get the quota of ration. Gourang Rout, a resident, said due to the chaotic situation at fair price shops, wheat and rice are not measured properly.
He said several representations have been made before district administration and Supply Department to open counters in each ward to ensure proper distribution but in vain.
Incidentally when consumers are harassed due to limited number of fair price shops, licence has been given to as many as 31 private dealers to sell kerosene.
Contacted, District Civil Supplies Officer Siba Prasad Dora admitted the problem but said plans are afoot to open a few more retail shops engaging SHGs to ensure proper distribution.