PDS Grain Issues in Vidarbha: Selenium and Scam Exposed

thenewsdirt
Jun 19
6 min read

Wheat and rice distributed through the Public Distribution system (PDS) in Vidarbha — PDS Grain Issues in Vidarbha

In Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, the Public Distribution System (PDS) has encountered significant hurdles over the past five years, affecting thousands who rely on it for food security.

Two major incidents, a selenium contamination case in Buldhana and a foodgrain scam in Yavatmal, have exposed vulnerabilities in the system’s quality and integrity.

This article provides a detailed account of these events, covering their scope, impact, and context based on available data from 2020 to 2025.

Selenium Contamination in Buldhana’s PDS Wheat

Between late 2024 and early 2025, more than 300 residents across 15 to 18 villages in Shegaon taluka, Buldhana district, Vidarbha, reported sudden and widespread hair loss.

Investigations pinpointed the cause to wheat distributed through PDS outlets, which contained elevated levels of selenium, a trace element that becomes toxic in high doses.

Dr. Himmatrao Bawaskar, a Padma Shri-awarded physician, led a month-long probe into the issue, confirming the link to contaminated wheat.

Laboratory tests conducted at Varni Analytics in Thane revealed selenium concentrations in the wheat at 14.52 mg/kg for unwashed samples and 13.61 mg/kg for washed samples. These levels far surpassed the typical range of 0.1 to 1.9 mg/kg, reaching approximately 145 times the normal amount.

Such high selenium content triggered selenosis, a condition linked to symptoms like hair loss, brittle nails, and skin problems. Blood tests of six affected individuals also showed low zinc levels, which likely aggravated the hair loss by hindering hair growth processes.

The wheat, labelled with “Crop year 2024-25, Commodity: Wheat/Paddy” on gunny bags, was sourced from Punjab’s Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr regions. These areas are known for selenium-rich soil, a result of historical floodwater contamination from the Shivalik mountains.

Similar health issues related to selenium were documented in these Punjab regions in the early 2000s, highlighting a persistent challenge in sourcing grains from such areas.

Dr. Bawaskar stated, “The excessive selenium in the wheat, combined with low zinc levels in the blood, created conditions for widespread hair loss in these villages”. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) initiated an investigation, and its interim report corroborated the connection between high selenium levels and the reported symptoms. The Health Ministry faced public criticism for its delayed response in addressing the issue, which heightened anxiety among affected communities.

The hair loss was not permanent, and many individuals began regrowing hair as the roots remained intact. Despite this, the incident caused considerable distress, both socially and health-wise, in the affected villages. Buldhana’s history of environmental contamination adds context to this event.

In 2010, high levels of cadmium and lead in local water supplies were linked to kidney disease across 200 villages, indicating a recurring pattern of environmental and food safety challenges in the region.

The scale of the contamination affected a significant portion of Shegaon taluka’s population, with the PDS being the primary food source for many low-income households.

The incident raised concerns about the mechanisms in place to test and ensure the safety of grains distributed through the system. The fact that the wheat came from a region known for high selenium content suggests a gap in screening processes before distribution.

Foodgrain Scam in Yavatmal

In June 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized immovable assets valued at Rs 4.06 crore across the Yavatmal district in Vidarbha, exposing a scam involving the illegal diversion of PDS wheat and rice.

The investigation focused on India Mega Agro Anaj Limited and its promoter, Ajay Chandraprakash Baheti, who orchestrated the misappropriation of foodgrains from Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns.

The scam took place between January and July 2018, involving a network of truck drivers, owners, district representatives, godown keepers, contractors, and middlemen.

Baheti manipulated the company’s financial records to create a false paper trail, using fictitious trading companies and bank accounts registered under employees’ names to facilitate the diversion. The ED estimated the total proceeds of the crime at Rs 55.27 crore, underscoring the scale of the operation.

An ED official remarked, “The accused built a complex network of transactions to divert PDS grains intended for the underprivileged”. The investigation began after Maharashtra Police filed First Information Reports (FIRs) and chargesheets under the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The ED’s probe, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, led to the attachment of assets on May 30, 2024. Baheti was arrested on June 24, 2021, and a prosecution complaint was filed in August 2021.

This diversion of grains meant for PDS beneficiaries likely reduced the availability of subsidised food in the affected district, impacting food security for many.

Although no direct health consequences were reported, the scam exposed weaknesses in the oversight of grain transportation and storage within the PDS supply chain. The involvement of multiple parties, from truck drivers to contractors, points to a coordinated effort to exploit systemic loopholes.

The affected district of Yavatmal is among Vidarbha’s key agricultural and economically challenged areas, where the PDS plays a critical role in supporting vulnerable populations.

The financial scale of the scam, combined with its impact on food distribution, highlights the broader challenges of ensuring accountability in the system.

Broader Context of PDS Challenges in Vidarbha

Beyond the selenium contamination and the foodgrain scam, specific cases of quality issues or scams in Vidarbha’s PDS from June 2020 to June 2025 are not widely documented in national or regional media, academic studies, or government reports.

This lack of records may indicate underreporting, effective local management, or a focus on high-profile cases like those in Buldhana and the three affected districts.

Maharashtra’s PDS, which includes Vidarbha, has faced broader challenges that provide context for these incidents. In 2023, a pilot project to transition from PDS rations to Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) in 14 districts, including parts of Vidarbha, led to complaints from beneficiaries. Many reported that rations were halted before cash transfers were implemented, disrupting access to food.

A local resident from Yavatmal noted, “We stopped getting grains, but the money didn’t come in time, leaving us with nothing for weeks”.

In 2020, a social media post claimed that the Maharashtra government exported PDS rice worth Rs 80 crore during the COVID-19 crisis, potentially affecting supply availability in regions like Vidarbha. While this allegation lacks detailed corroboration, it reflects public concerns about the management of PDS stocks during critical periods.

No Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports specifically addressing PDS in Maharashtra from 2020 to 2025 were identified.

However, a 2017 national CAG audit of the Food Corporation of India highlighted issues such as foodgrain wastage due to poor storage conditions, which could indirectly affect PDS quality in Vidarbha.

The absence of region-specific audits suggests a gap in detailed oversight or public disclosure.

The Department of Food and Public Distribution employs Quality Control Cells (QCC), the Central Grain Analysis Laboratory (CGAL), and the Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute (IGMRI) to maintain grain quality.

However, the selenium contamination case reveals deficiencies in testing grains sourced from areas known for high trace element content. The lack of proactive measures to screen for such risks allowed contaminated wheat to reach consumers, causing significant health impacts.

Vidarbha’s reliance on the PDS is particularly pronounced due to its economic and agricultural challenges, including drought and farmer distress. The system serves as a lifeline for millions, making incidents like contamination and diversion especially disruptive. The selenium case affected public trust, while the scam reduced access to essential grains, compounding the region’s vulnerabilities.

The operational framework of the PDS involves multiple stages, from procurement to distribution, each with potential points of failure. The selenium contamination points to issues in the procurement phase, where grains from high-risk areas were not adequately tested. The foodgrain scam highlights vulnerabilities in the transportation and storage phases, where oversight failed to prevent large-scale diversion.

These incidents, though distinct, reflect the interconnected challenges of managing a complex food distribution system.

The experiences of Buldhana’s villagers, who faced unexpected hair loss but later saw recovery, and the pursuit of justice against those who diverted grains meant for the poor, highlight the human stakes of the PDS.

These events, set against Vidarbha’s backdrop of economic hardship, show the system’s critical role in sustaining communities. The ongoing efforts to address these challenges reflect the commitment to ensuring that essential grains reach those who need them most.