Ranchi, Aug. 1: Jharkhand today launched a GPS-based vehicle tracking system for 2,000 trucks used to transport subsidised food grains to 23,000 PDS outlets across the state and the government hopes the initiative would cut down theft and pilferage before the ration reaches the end user.

State food, public distribution and consumer affairs minister Saryu Roy said, "Trucks pressed for the service of the public distribution system have been given specified routes to carry food grain from the godowns of Food Corporation of India and State Food Corporation to PDS shops. In case there's a deviation in route, the person manning the control room will get to know. If it is found that the truck deviated from the route for the purpose of pilferage, proper action can be taken."

Department secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey said the central control room was established today at the directorate of the department near Dhurwa roundabout.

"A person sitting in the control panel room can monitor the movement of vehicles. Minister Roy introduced the system today. He also inaugurated the control panel and had first-hand experience of tracking. It is an ideal example of electronic intervention in a government scheme to prevent corruption," Choubey said.

Under the public distribution system, more than 57 lakh families are provided food grain on subsidised rates. Earlier, the department introduced e-PoS machine to ensure delivery of food grains to the right person, and digital weighing machines for correct measurement of food grains.