Question
What are the problems of the functioning of ration shops?
Solution
The problems of the functioning of ration shops are described below:
(i)Public distribution system dealers are sometimes found resorting to malpractices like diverting the grains to open market to get better margin, selling poor quality grains at ration shops, irregular opening of the shops etc.
(i)Public distribution system dealers are sometimes found resorting to malpractices like diverting the grains to open market to get better margin, selling poor quality grains at ration shops, irregular opening of the shops etc.
(ii) Food adulterations is another big problem of ration shops.
(iii) Earlier every family, poor and non-poor had a ration card with a fixed quota of items such as wheat, sugar, rice, pulses etc.
(iv)But now with the introduction of three different cards the price for above the poverty line family is almost as high as open market price, so there is little incentive for them.
(v)It is common to find that ration shops regularly have unsold stocks of poor quality grains left. This has proved to be a big problem. When ration shops are unable to sell, a massive stock of foodgrains piles up with the FCI.
