Villagers Expose Corrupt Dealers
Channel: VideoVolunteers
Date: 2010-08-30

Villagers in Bihar's Vaishali district expose corruption in the Public Distribution System, seek action. Hundreds of people including Varsha Jawalgekar, correspondent of this video have united against corruption in the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Chakfatte village of Bihar's Vaishali district. The distributor of the village PDS outlet has been caught selling villagers food grains at a price much higher than the govt-fixed rate and also selling food grains meant for the villagers at open market. The public distribution system (PDS) ensures the distribution of essential items such as selected cereals, sugar and kerosene at subsidized prices to holders of ration cards -- card provided by the govt to citizens for accessing ration at subsidized rate. The PDS helps ensure food security of the people, especially the poor. The PDS is implemented through Fair Price Shops, popularly known as 'Ration Shops". However, corruption is rampant in PDS across Bihar. Recently even the Supreme Ccourt of India has indicted the Food and Civil Supplies Corporation of Bihar, saying "The diversion of foodgrain takes place at every level of the system...the malady of diversion is prevalent in the system on such a large scale that it has become a menace and threat to the system." But in Chakfatte village people have decided to fight the corruption instead of just observing it silently. And as a community correspondent Varsha felt compelled to be with them by documenting this fight. While shooting of the video, Varsha was threatened by the distributor with dire consequences. But her determination helped her complete it. She now expects that the video will garner viewers' support to the Chakfatte resident's struggle to weed out the petty corruption in the PDS.

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