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Mumbai : Only a few states/union territories (UTs) have introduced food coupons, some only on a pilot basis, informed Prof. K V Thomas, minister of state for agriculture, consumer affairs, food and public distribution.
Government of Andhra Pradesh has issued bar coded coupons for drawal of rice and kerosene under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) to ensure that there is no impersonation/false accounting in distribution of essential commodities by the Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers.
Arunachal Pradesh government has initiated coupon system on an experimental basis in Tirap district. Coupons are issued to beneficiaries at the time of issuance / renewal of ration cards. September allocation is based on the coupons submitted by the FPS dealers.
Jammu and Kashmir government is issuing ration cards in a booklet form for two years containing 24 coupons. As reported by the Government of Bihar, monthly food coupons are issued to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families for a year and food grains are distributed to families on the basis of these coupons. However, effectiveness of such coupons in eliminating deficiencies in TPDS has not yet been evaluated.
In the conference of food secretaries of states and UTs held on 12th and 13th July, 2010, various initiatives taken by states/UTs were presented, including the issue of food coupons.
Among other measures, it has been resolved to give a fillip to the IT based initiatives through computerisation of the TPDS and introduction of smart card based delivery of food grains to further strengthen and streamline TPDS.
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