New Delhi, July 25: Expressing concern over "peculiar dilemma" of excess food and low consumption that the country faces, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today sought help of the states to overcome slippages in implementation of Public Distribution System.
"We are faced with a peculiar dilemma of surplus on the resource side and deficit on the consumption end of the production-supply chain," Vajpayee told the all party meeting held to discuss PDS.


"The central government has done whatever possible with the resource limitations to enhance efficiency of the supply chain."


Vajpayee said though PDS is the joint responsibility of the centre and the states, some slippages in implementation do occur on account of lack of coordination and monitoring.
An important link in PDS that remains to be strengthened is the distribution of foodgrains in villages and remote areas, he said.

The Prime Minister said India had become an exporter of foodgrains and is also in a position to help others by way of food aid.
"The percentage of our population living below the poverty line has declined and the per capita availability of foodgrains has improved", he said, adding the government has also considerably reduced the price and increased the quantity of foodgrains for the poor.

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The government of India has taken a number of measures in the last two years to utilise the foodgrains for the welfare of the people, Vajpayee said.
He said apart from the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), foodgrains at Below Poverty Line (BPL) rates are also being allotted to welfare schemes administered by different ministries, state governments, non-governmental organisations sponsored by state governments and ministries of government of India.

Bureau Report