In order to remove some of its drawbacks, the PDS was revamped in 1992 and the revamped system was launched in tribal, arid, hilly, drought-prone and other remotely located areas of the country. The objective of revamping the PDS was to increase its reach on the basis of areas approach, and to eliminate the leakages and malpractices that had crept in the system. In June 1997, a new policy of targeted PDS (TPDS) was introduced as an important constituent of the strategy of poverty alleviation. One of the important feature of the implementing strategy of the Tenth Five Year Plan is the crucial role given to the panchayati raj