The Government will spend about Rs. 4,000 crore for computerisation of the Public Distribution System (PDS).

This was stated by Food and Public Distribution Minister K. V. Thomas while talking to reporters today. He said it was necessary to revamp the PDS to ensure strict implementation of the proposed National Food Security Bill.

Mr. Thomas added that the National Informatics Centre would work as a nodal agency for the automation of PDS.

The Minister said the Government would establish a three-tier grievance redressal system and there would be panchayat-level vigilance committees to monitor the food distribution.

The Minister said the major feature of the proposed Bill was that the citizens would get legal entitlement for availing government subsidy.

As per the proposed Bill, all persons in the below poverty line (BPL) category will be entitled to 25 kg of rice and wheat at subsidised rate.

Mr. Thomas also said that in view of the wide spread complaints about the BPL list that was based on the 2001 census and poverty data, the upcoming Bill would adopt fresh data being generated in the 2011 census.