Chhattisgarh government has initiated a unique festival in the state known as Chawal Utsav (Rice Festival) that ensures food security to all. It is celebrated on 7th day of every month irrespective of the day being a working day or a holiday. This popularity of the day among the citizens of state has motivated the government to carry out other welfare schemes on the very day. The people wait eagerly for the day and a social gathering at the Fair Price Shops (FPS) can be seen on the day.
Rice is the staple food of Chhattisgarh. The State had earlier been suffering from a problem of shortage of food grains. It was not because of the less production of rice, but mostly due to artificial shortages created by middle men. There were several cases of death due to starvation. The farmers did not get sufficient support price for the paddy. Public Distribution System (PDS) department of Chhattisgarh was infected by high corruption and black marketing and was no different from PDS department of any other state. Government funds were siphoned for personal benefits. There was hardly any accountability in the system.
The state government in order to check the twin problems of death due to starvation and corruption started the process of revamping the department. The department with the help of Nation Information Centre (NIC), Raipur incorporated IT and different processes were computerized and were made web based to make the system real time. The websites were also updated in real time. Modern IT infrastructure like high speed internet connection, VSAT at procurement and distribution centers and Global Positioning Systems for the trucks carrying ration were installed. At unreachable places and where the IT infrastructure could not be installed, a motorcyclist ran everyday between these centers and the nearest block headquarter. A toll free helpline was made available to get information and register complaints about the system. Now the beneficiaries also had option of registering their mobile phones for SMS which gave details of the truck and the ration being carried to FPS of their locality.
The government of Chhattisgarh has marked 7th day of every month as the Chawal Utsav. The officers of the Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation (CGSCS) have to ensure that the food grains reach the FPS at least one day before. The beneficiaries get the intimation through the SMS. The ration is carried in special yellow coloured truck of the department. This vehicle is welcomed even in the notorious naxalite affected regions. The rice and wheat are sold at Rs. 2/kg to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty line (APL) and at Rs. 1/kg to extremely poor people with a maximum limit of 35kg per ration card. Similarly, the beneficiaries also get sugar, kerosene at highly subsidized rate and iodized salt for free. The government is also planning to distribute gram (chana) at subsidized rate to the people, however, it is a pilot project stage.
A typical Chawal Utsav is a very special day for people specially the rural people. It is as good as any other festival. Elderly men, women, children and young boys and girls can be seen gathered at the FPSs. A small village haat can be seen at some of the places. People also carry out shopping on the day. The government also exploits the day to implement other welfare activities. Polio vaccination are given on the day. The day also contributes to maximum crowd at the Village Anganbadi Kendra.
The PDS model of the state of Chhattisgarh is now considered as the best in India and is a role model for other states. Secretaries and government officers of different states and also media people have visited Chhattisgarh and documented the system. The model is a perfect blend of supply chain, information technology and good governance & administration. It is now being adopted by other states in India. The CGSCS has won several awards in the last four years for governance, best practices, agriculture, consumer protection, best project and paddy procurement. It is now a topic of management study in leading business schools in India. Undoubtedly, it is the flag bearer of good governance and public welfare.
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