Wadhwa Committee Report

It is a reflection on the utter insensitivity of our bureaucracy that while the common man and poor people are reeling under sky-rocketing prices of food commodities, the subsidy provided by the government for distribution of food grain through the Public Distribution System (PDS) is being misused. Those responsible for this maladministration are making a raillery of the efforts being made by the government and at the same time, further making life difficult for the poor.

Progress and Welfare
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had once asserted that of every rupee that the government releases for the country's progress and welfare, only Rs.0.06 go to the poor. One can easily surmise by that assertion how deep the malaise of corruption has entered into the system of Indian administration, and the lust of easy money has spoiled our bureaucracy. The comment made by late Rajiv Gandhi is applicable to the administration even to this day.

It won't be an exaggeration to say that in fact, the situation has gone worse. That is why the schism between the rich and the poor continues to widen. The life of the poor has become so difficult that let alone other necessary items and commodities he finds it difficult even to get a square meal a day. In such a scenario, if our bureaucracy sacrifices the amount earmarked by the government for providing food grain at subsidized rates to the poor at the altar of the corruption, it can only be termed utter insensitivity and nothing else.

Impact of Corruption
The Supreme Court had constituted a committee headed by a retired judge of the apex court, Justice D.P. Wadhwa, to investigate the details of the shortcomings of the PDS and recommend remedial measures. The Wadhwa Committee has revealed in its report that the huge subsidy of Rs.280 billion that the government provides to the PDS goes into the pockets of corrupt government officers, transporters, and mill owners. The committee has described the PDS as the most corrupt department in the country.

The committee has further disclosed that wheat meant for distribution to poor people directly reaches flour mils from warehouses. This implies that the wheat supply, which could give succor to a poor and provide a square meal to a hungry family, is directly filing up the coffers of corrupt officers, transports, and the mill owners. This way, the poor are being deprived of their dues.

Although the Wadhwa Committee has said nothing on the involvement of politicians in the matter, going by the prevailing situation in the country, the threads of every corrupt practice are linked to politicians. In this case also, it can be safely surmised that if the entire PDS were thoroughly investigated, involvement of some leaders would certainly get revealed.

Fast-Spreading Malignancy
The report likens corruption in the PDS as a fast-spreading malignancy, and has stressed the need to strike at the very roots of this gangrene. Yet, one wonders who would initiate any action against bureaucracy, officials, and politicians who are merged up to their ears in corruption?

Undoubtedly, our judiciary has initiated commendable measure to reform society, and to protect the rights of the poor but clearly, judiciary also has its own limitations. It is for the government to initiate measures to set things right in corrupt departments like the PDS or any other such department.

Below Poverty Line Card
Justice P.D. Wadhwa has disclosed that every PDS depot holder pays Rs. 1,200 to the police inspector every month, and the circle inspector of the Department of Civil Supplies asks for Rs.1, 000 as bribe every month. The committee has given indications of bribes being paid at every step. Even to get the Below Poverty Line (BPL) card issued, the gram Panchayat (local self-government) secretary takes a bribe of Rs. 500.

This implies that one has to pay through his nose to get oneself recognized as a poor person. When corruption has reached such a level, how can one expect that the poor would ever get his right, or that plans launched by the government for welfare of the poor would ever reach the targeted populace.