12 initiatives from 8 states were among the 41 winners of Gems of Digital India Awards, 2017. The 41 Gems of Digital India were discovered through a 13 months long research by Coeus Age Consulting and were felicitated in an awards function in New Delhi on the 7th of June 2017.
Public Distribution System (PDS) is an effective instrument to ensure equitable distribution of essential commodities to consumers, especially those from the weaker sections of the society, and to provide them with food security. However, the system faces several challenges in ensuring not only that all bona fide beneficiaries receive their entitlements but also that only the bona fide beneficiaries receive those. There are challenges of leakages due to corrupt practices at multiple points in the system. This case study on PDS Odisha shows how a state with a significant size of poor population and the legacy of a poorly managed PDS is now getting in the league of frontrunners by bringing about a physical transformation for enabling a digital leap.
In order to digitalize the PDS, the government of Odisha partnered with World Food Programme (WFP) and undertaken the program Odisha Modernizing Economy, Governance and Administration (OMEGA), in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID), Government of the UK, to promote sustainable development and eliminate global poverty. IPE Global, a management consulting firm has been engaged with DFID and WFP to provide technical assistance and support to the government of Odisha for implementing reform initiatives under OMEGA. The Project Management Unit (PMU) constituted with WFP’s support has been managing the progress with a strong implementation strategy.
Congratulations to the Team PDS Odisha and WFP.
A detailed case study on PDS – Odisha has been included in the book 41 Gems of Digital India – Actionable Insights for EGovernance Leaders and Nation Builders (available at NotionPress.com and Amazon.in)