As per the recently introduced system, people who buy things at fair price outlets will get SMS with details of the subsidised products they bought and the price they paid. However, there were allegations that public had received SMSes in their mobile phones even when they did not buy things at ration shops.



It is alleged that staff members at some shops create fake bills in the names of family card holders, and sell products at outside market at higher prices, resulting in consumers getting the SMSes.

Following this, the government has unveiled the helpline number. It has asked the public to forward the SMSes they get to this number, in case they have not bought products in ration shops.

Recently, smart cards were introduced to rule out the possibility of bogus cards and duplication of names of members, ensuring that distribution of commodities like rice, wheat, sugar, kerosene and oil reach only the deserving.

Through the digital system, allocation of commodities to public distribution scheme outlets and real-time monitoring of the movement of essential commodities from warehouses to outlets will be carried out.