The Public Distribution System (PDS) has been subject to various systemic problems and has faced increasing criticism since 1991, such as:
- Mismanagement has led to a massive increase in operational cost and to market distortion;
- The scheme has an urban bias and has been criticized for neglecting the rural sector;
- Below poverty line (BPL) households have not been properly covered owing to leakages through widespread corruption, illegal sales, creation of false cards and the use of facilities by better-off households.
The Government of India has launched a comprehensive program to accelerate eGovernance for most of its portfolios with the broad objective of enhancing efficiency, transparency and accountability. To this extent, the Food & Civil Supplies (FCS) department plans to automate its Targeted PDS (TPDS).
In order to prodcutize eGovernance for TPDS Mastek has developed a comprehensive eFCS Framework. The eFCS Framework automates a host of Public Distribution Functions through 5 key modules namely:
- Public Distribution Module
- Ration Card Management Module
- Budgeting & Accounting
- FPS Management Module
- Supplementary Functions Module
The Modules are loosely coupled and yet dependent on each other for the completion of the PDS Supply Chain Cycle.
- Shorter roll-out timelines
- Significant improvement in Enrollment & Food Distribution Operations
- High Citizen Awareness & Improved Decision Making
- Transparency in accounting of commodities
