Fourth Quarterly Report On Concurrent Evaluation of Implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) - 2013 in Chhattisgarh Jashpur & Balrampur Department of Food & Public Distribution Chhattisgarh Sponsored By: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, New Delhi Monitoring and Reporting Done by: Mr. Aditya Raj & Mr. Manoj K. Singh Xavier Institute of Social Service Dr. Camil Bulcke Path, Ranchi-834001 Jharkhand XISS | NFSA-2013 4th Quarter Report 2019-20/ Chhattisgarh Page 1 Acknowledgment This Concurrent Evaluation team of XISS is duty bound to express gratitude to the officials and people of district Jashpur and Balrampur of Chhattisgarh for their preservance and constant assistance. We also extend our sincere thanks to the Food Officers of both the districts. The share of contribution of all the Food Inspectors across the sampled villages was very valuable, our sincere regards to them also. Lastly, we would like to thanks everyone who was directly or indirectly indulge in bringing this report forward. Mr. Aditya Raj & Mr. Manoj K. Singh Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, Jharkhand XISS | NFSA-2013 4th Quarter Report 2019-20/ Chhattisgarh Page 2 Table of Contents Particulars Page No. Acknowledgment 2 List of Tables 4 Executive Summary 5-8 Chapter I – Introduction 9-11 Chapter II - Description of Study Area 12-13 Chapter III - Beneficiary Selection and Ration Card Management 14-16 Chapter IV - Fair Price Shop Management 17-21 Chapter V - Supply Chain Management and Door step Delivery 22-23 Chapter VI - Access to food grain entitlement and FPS automation 24-25 Chapter VII - Grievance Redressal System 26-27 Chapter VIII - Vigilance Committee and Social Audit 28 Chapter IX - Digital Payment 29 Chapter X - Key Recommendations and Suggestions 30 Annexure I - Checklist for Nodal Officers i-ii Annexure II – State Fact Sheet iii-xiii Annexure III – District Fact Sheet – Balrampur xiv-xix Annexure-IV – District Fact Sheet – Jashpur xx-xxv XISS | NFSA-2013 4th Quarter Report 2019-20/ Chhattisgarh Page 3 List of Tables Heads Page No. 1.1 Quarterly Sample plan 11 2.1 District wise sampled village information with figures 13 3.1 Households met the following eligible criteria/ condition 14-15 Awareness levels of household heads regarding application of ration cards 3.2 15 and distance travelled Awareness levels of household heads regarding NFSA eligibility, 3.3 16 applying process and other facilities 4.1 FPS dealer ownership status 17 4.2.i Accessibility to FPS by road and distance travelled by beneficiaries 17-18 Opening duration of PDS shop and satisfaction level for timing in 4.3 18-19 distribution Status of cleanliness (storage quality) of FPS 4.4 19 4.5.i Commission/Margin of FPS dealers 20 4.5.ii Expenditure incurred monthly by FPS dealer 20 4.5.iii One-time expenditure incurred by FPS dealer 21 4.6 E-Pos/ Tablet availability 21 5.1 Status of short supply of food grains to beneficiaries 23 5.2 Automation of Supply Chain Management 23 6.1 Status of food grains not purchased voluntarily and Percentage off take 24 6.2 Food grains sample displayed at the ration shop 24-25 6.3 Satisfaction with share of wheat/rice 25 7.1 Grievances raised, officers approached and their redressal status 26 XISS | NFSA-2013 4th Quarter Report 2019-20/ Chhattisgarh Page 4 Executive Summary (1) Beneficiary selection and ration card management: 1.1 - The beneficiaries get information about the PHH and AAY eligible criteria from the PDS sales man, Swayam Sahayta Samooh (SHG) membes (the owner of the PDS) and the Panchyat representatives. Ones the card holder gets his share of food grains they are least bothered about other matters. The process of applying for new card/ modification/addition /deletion is known to very few in the villages. The only process they know is to contact the Sarpanch and the ward member for any work or complain related to PDS. 1.2 & 1.3 - Out of 150 surveyed beneficiaries nobody has reported that they had applied for modification/addition/deletion and the complaints were redress without any difficulty. The reason was in the month of Jan 2020, a renewal of cards took place in the state. 1.4 - The key feature/functionary involved for ration card management system was the use of Tablets in all PDS. 1.5 - No separate step has been taken to make people more aware about the tablet facility and its use. Gradually people are getting acquainted with the use of tablet and photo. 1.6 - The main barrier to use, on line services for new card application is poor due to lack of motivation, training and awareness to the salesmen and the dealers. 1.7 - Neither the exclusion error nor the inclusion error was reported during the survey. No problem prevailed in this respect. 1.8 - Vigilance committees functional in the villages do not complained about the wrong inclusion or exclusion of the beneficiaries. (2) Access to food grain entitlements and FPS automation 2.1 - Grains supplied by PDS meet 58.4% of the monthly family requirement of rice in each family taking both the districts together. As it is rice consuming belt, rice is liked by all and the quality of rice supplied is good and there is no complain about it. 2.2 - As regards quantity, price and quality of grains supplied there is no complain. NFSA supplies 5Kg of rice and CGFSA (State share) provides 2Kg per head. In total 7 Kg of rice provided is quite enough to support the family. XISS | NFSA-2013 4th Quarter Report 2019-20/ Chhattisgarh Page 5 2.3- PDS shops open for about 13.7 days (average) in a month and 92% card holders reported that during the day it opens for whole day i.e. from 10 am to 5pm with one hour lunch break in the afternoon. 2.4- FPS dealer / Sales man have not received training of any kind neither managerial nor account related. 2.5 - In place of PoS machines, tablets are used so finger print based authentication is not possible. - IRIS based authentication were not reported - Integrated electronic weighing machine with Blue tooth not found at FPS and Godown. - Whip antenna to boost connectivity is not functional in any place. - Local language interface-voice/ written not provided in any PDS - Transaction completion receipts are also not provided - Micro –ATM functionality to perform cashless, BC and CSC operations are also not found. 2.6 - Biometric authentication not in use as tablets are used in all PDS 2.7 - Finger print related precautions are not applicable as tablets are used in place of PoS machines. 2.8 - Biometric failure not applicable as tablets are in use. 2.9 - Not available as tablet is used (without biometric authentication) 2.10- Not available as tablet is used (Non authentication transaction, 3 months) 2.11- Zero cases of silent cards was reported by dealers. Since, recently renewal of all the cards took place, silent cards (if existed) was removed. 2.12- All (100%) old, infirm, physically challenged beneficiary households are covered with nomination facilities. 2.13-Transactions at sample FPSs are reflected in the state portal. (3) Supply Chain and FPS viability 3.1- Food distribution calendar of the State and District is prepared and is followed strictly. From the godown stock is dispatched on the last week of the month so that distribution of grains is initiated from the first week of coming month positively. Beneficiaries are not permitted to lift previous month’s quota as reported by the PDS sales man and the villagers. 3.2- The sampled godowns strictly adhere to the distribution calendar without failure. XISS | NFSA-2013 4th Quarter Report 2019-20/ Chhattisgarh Page 6 3.3- There is adequate storage capacity in the state godown, but at certain times when paddy purchase is in progress private godowns are hired on temporary basis. In godown shortage of technical and managerial staff (8 to 10 persons) was reported. Lack of adequate manpower in godown was reported. 3.4- Closing balance of FPS and Ration Card number / entitlement are not fetched automatically. It is managed with the help of tablet and information is fetched by phone. 3.5- As reported by the PDS owner, sales man and officials, facility for dispatch of SMS alert exists. But none of them could show us any received SMS. 3.6- All godowns / FPS are not linked to supply chain management. (Number of linked or unlinked FPS was not available). 3.7- Acknowledgment of supply of food grains at FPS not provided. 3.8- Daily closing balance for the FPS not available on line. 3.9- Release order, delivery order, gate pass, truck challan are on line. 3.10- Stock position of all godown and FPS are not captured on line. 3.11- Details of FPS allocation, off take and distribution are reported correctly in state Portal. 3.12- Commission paid to the dealer is Rs 0.70 per Kg of rice for NFSA quota. The payment of commission is regular without delay. 3.13- The average commission paid to the FPS dealer is about Rs 13,517/- per month (gross) in Dantewada while it is Rs. 10,790 in Beejapur. The variance in average commission of dealers depends on number of cards in the FPS. Income from other sources (gunny bags) is Rs 6,844/- per month (approx). 3.14 On line issuance of new license or cancellation was not reported to the survey team. (4) Grievance redressal system 4.1-To enhance the knowledge about functioning of toll free number/ grievance redressal system the beneficiaries do not make any effort as most of them are illiterate and not aware about the system.