DMK MP from Dharmapuri Dr. Senthilkumar peddled half truths on the floor of the Parliament, saying that the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Tamil Nadu was introduced by C.N. Annadurai.
Speaking on the budget, the Dharmapuri DMK MP said that the PDS system and the ‘rice subsidy’ was introduced during the time of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.
However, the PDS system was first introduced in 1964. It should be noted that the DMK first came to power only in 1967.
A study on the effectiveness of Public Distribution System in Tamil Nadu submitted by Dr. S. Nakkiran of TBML College to the Planning Commission of India notes that the Government of Tamil Nadu has been implementing PDS since the year 1964. In 1964, M. Bhaktavatsalam was the Chief Minister.
The scheme was back then named as Village Shop Programme introduced with the intention of having one shop in every village in order to ensure the supply of essential items to the people. The scheme was subsequently converted into PDS to provide essential commodities to the public at subsidized rates, both in rural and urban areas.
Karunanidhi, after taking office in 1996, introduced the ‘universal’ PDS which has been in operation where certain items were given to all families with a ration card. Karunanidhi is also credited with founding the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, the organization that is responsible for providing food grains and other commodities under Public Distribution System through ration shops.
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