CHAPTER -XII
Public Distribution System

12.1.0 The Public Distribution System (PDS) is a major instrument of the Government’s Poverty eradication programme which is regulated under the "Assam Public Distribution of Articles Order 1982" and the entire System is covered by the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The main responsibility of the State Food and Civil Supplies Department is to maintain overall stability of general price level and to ensure adequate supply of essential commodities in the State. At present, the Department has been implementing some welfare schemes sponsored by the Government of India such as schemes for Below Poverty line (BPL), Above Poverty Line (APL), Antyodaya Anna Yojana as well as Randhan Jyoti through its well equipped Public Distribution Network stretching all over the State. The functioning of the Schemes are narrated below.

I. Below Poverty Line (BPL)

Under the Below Poverty Line Scheme, the State Government has been giving Rice @ 35 kgs to each of the 16,11,210 families selected all over the State which are identified living Below Poverty Line. In addition to Rice these BPL families are also provided with Wheat and Wheat product, S.K. Oil, Sugr, Salt (Zonal) etc. through Public Distribution System at subsidies prices.

II. Above Poverty Line (APL)

Above Poverty Line (APL) Scheme normally covers the middle class people of the society. There are about 35 lakh families living Above Poverty Line (APL) with a population of 175.44 lakh in the State. These families have been providing APL, Rice, Wheat and Wheat product, Levy Sugar, S.K. Oil and Salt in every month at Government fixed price through Family identity Cards (FIC).

III. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)

As per guidelines of the Government of India, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana has been implemented since November, 2001 in the State. Under this scheme, the State Government has been providing Rice @ 35 Kilogram per family per month at a price of Rs 3.00 per Kilogram to each of the families numbering 2,81, 406 selected by the Government of Assam. In addition to Rice, the families also get Wheat and Wheat product, Levy Sugar, S.K. Oil, Salt (Zonal) etc.

IV. Randhan Jyoti

Under this scheme one Lakh LPG single bottle connections will be released to a widow or a family member of each of he one lakh selected BPL families in both rural and urban areas of the State at free of connecting charges. The district-wise targets for the numbers of beneficiaries has been calculated @5.25 per cent of the total selected BPL families. This scheme was formally launched on the 15^th August 2003 all over the State.

12.2.0 Public Distribution System with a network of about 33 (thirty three) thousand Fair Price Shops (FPS) is perhaps the largest distribution network of its type throughout the State During 2002-2003, there are 33,229 Nos. of Fair Price Shops in Assam comprising 29,322 Nos. in rural areas and 3,907 Nos. in urban areas and the number of population covered per Fair Price Shop is around 803 for the aforesaid period.

The present monthly requirement and allocation of commodities for Public Distribution System Schemes for the State is shown in the table 12.1.

TABLE – 12.1
REQUIREMENT, ALLOCATION AND RELEASE OF PDS ITEMS IN ASSAM
(In metric tonne)

CONSUMER PROTECTION AFFAIRS:

12.3.0 The most important responsibility entrusted with the Food and Civil Supplies Department of the Government of Assam is to protect the consumer’s interest in the State. As per provisions of the Consumers Protection Act, 1986, the Food and Civil supplies Department being the Administrative Department has already set up one State Commission with Headquarters at Guwahati and twenty-three numbers of District Forum (Permanent/Temporary basis) in different Districts to dispose off the cases and complaints lodged before the Commission/Forum as per provision of the aforesaid Act. The Aggrieved persons are benefited by the directions of the Commission and District Forum, since its inception, 10714 numbers of cases have been filed before the Commission/Forum out of which 8869 numbers of cases have been disposed off leaving a balance of 1845 numbers cases.

As a part of its Consumer’s Protection Policy the State Government has taken some important decisions such as (i) to institute a State Level Award for State Organization, which has outstanding contribution towards consumer’s movement activities. The award is named after Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan and carries a cash component and a citation, (ii) to include consumer awareness in the School Curriculum, (iii) to notify the Directorate of Food and Civil Supplies as State Nodal Centre of Consumer Affaires, and (iv) to form District Information Centre.

It is encouraging to observe that a large number of cases have been filed under "The Essential Commodities Act, 1955", "Prevention of Black Marketing" and "Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980." As per information made available by the Department, a total of 813 numbers of raid have been conducted upto the end of the month of October, 2003 leading to conviction of 17 numbers of persons and realization of a huge amount of money as penalty etc.