Lok Sabha Question No. 368 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-28
Subject: Fair Price Shops
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT RAGHUNATH PATIL, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 368 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  MARCH, 2017

## FAIR PRICE SHOPS

*368. SHRI C.R. PATIL:

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is providing quality foodgrains to consumers through the Fair Price Shops in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  Fair  Price  Shopkeepers  have  been  found  indulging  in  the adulteration of foodgrains and if so, the details thereof including the number of cases of adulteration detected, State-wise;
- (c) the action taken against the guilty persons;
- (d) whether complaints have been received regarding corruption/ irregularities  and  diversion  of  funds/ration  allocated  for  the  poor  and  if  so, the corrective steps being taken by the Government to check the same; and
- (e) the number and details of cases in which action was taken during the last two years?

A N S W E R MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAMVILAS PASWAN)

(a)

A statement is laid on the Table of the House

to (e): ****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE STARRED QUESTION  NO  368  DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON  28 TH   MARCH,  2017  IN  THE  LOK SABHA

(a): Yes Madam, Government has prescribed quality norms for foodgrains (wheat & rice) to be distributed under the Public Distribution System (PDS) through Fair Price Shops which are given at Annexure- I.

(b)&(c):  Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of all  the  food  products  are  undertaken  by  the  officials  of  Food  Safety Departments  of  the  respective  States/UTs  to  check  that  they  comply  with the standards laid down under Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules & Regulation made thereunder. In cases where food samples are found to be non-conforming, recourse is taken to penal provisions under Chapter-IX of  the  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act,  2006.  The  implementation  and enforcement of norms under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules & Regulation made thereunder primarily rests with the State/UT Government.

FSSAI vide letter dated 16 th  March, 2017 addressed to Commissioner of  Food  Safety  of  all  States/UTs  has  specially  asked  them  to  ensure compliance of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules  &  Regulations  made  thereunder,  by  the  establishments  of  FCI,  the Food and Supply Departments and Fair Price Shops.

No  separate  enforcement  data  regarding  samples  taken  from  Fair Price  Shops  by  Food  Safety  Authorities  of  the  States/UTs  is  maintained centrally  by  FSSAI.  However,  based  on  information  made  available  by  the States/UTs,  details  of  all  food  samples  received,  analyzed,  found  nonconforming to the norms and action taken under provision of FSS Act, 2006 during the year 2015-16 is at Annexure-II.

(d)&(e): Targeted  PDS  is  operated  under  the  joint  responsibility  of  the Central  and  the  State/UT  Governments.  Central  Government  is  responsible for procurement,  allocation  and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food  Corporation of India. The  operational responsibilities for intra-state allocation and distribution of foodgrains within the  States/UTs,  identification  of  eligible  beneficiaries,  issuance  of  ration cards and supervision and monitoring of the Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with the concerned State/UT Governments.

There have been complaints/reports from individuals and organizations  as  well  as  press  reports  relating  to  leakage/diversion  of foodgrains, bogus/ineligible ration cards, irregular functioning of FPS, beneficiaries  not  getting  their  entitled  quota  of  foodgrains  etc.  Under National  Food  Security  [NFSA]  Act,  2013  and  Targeted  Public  Distribution System [TPDS] (Control) Order 2015, the responsibility of addressing these issues falls under the purview of respective State/UT Governments. Therefore, as and when complaints are received, these are referred to the State/UT Governments concerned for inquiry and appropriate action.

To  strengthen  and  streamline  TPDS,  the  Government  has  also initiated implementation of 'End-to-end Computerisation of TPDS Operations' during  the  12 th   Five  Year  Plan  (2012-17)  on  cost  sharing  basis  with  the States/UTs  to  ensure  transparency  and  check  leakages  in  the  TPDS.  The scheme inter-alia includes the actions: digitization of ration cards/beneficiary details and other databases, computerisation of supply-chain management, setting up transparency portals, grievance redressal mechanisms, installation of ePoS devices at Fair Price Shops and issuance of foodgrains after biometric authentication.

Further, NFSA provides for two tier Grievance Redressal Mechanism in  each  State/UT  consisting  of  District  Grievance  Redressal  Officers  and State  Food  Commissions.  A  system  of  toll-free  helpline  numbers  has  also been  put  in  place  by  State/UT  Governments  for  suggestions/complaints regarding TPDS.

State/UT-wise details regarding action taken by the State/UT Governments  against  corruption/irregularities,  diversion  of  funds/ration  etc during the last two years is at Annexure-III.

******

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  STARRED  QUESTION NO 368 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2017 IN LOK SABHA.

Quality norms of foodgrains (wheat & rice) prescribed for distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS)

Wheat: Wheat is categorized based upon the percentage of weevilled grains as shown in the table below:-

| Category   | Percentage of Weevilled grains   |
|------------|----------------------------------|
| A          | Upto 1%                          |
| B          | Above1% and upto 4%              |
| C          | Above4% and upto 7%              |
| D          | Above7% and upto 10%             |

Stock of A and B categories conforming to Food Safety and Standards Authority of  India  (FSSAI)  standards  and  free  from  insect  infestation  are  prescribed  for  issue under PDS.

Rice: Rice  is  categorised  on  the  basis  of  percentage  of  damaged  and discoloured grains as shown in the table below:-

| CATEGORY 'A' Raw rice Parboiled rice CATEGORY 'B'   | DAMAGED GRAIN Upto 3% Upto 3%   | DISCOLOURED GRAIN Upto 3% Upto 3%   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Raw Rice Parboiled Rice CATEGORY 'C'                | above3% upto 4% above3% upto 4% | above3% upto 5% above3% upto 5%     |
| Raw Rice Parboiled Rice CATEGORY 'D'                | above4% upto 5% above4% upto    | above5% upto 7% above5% upto 7%     |

Lot showing appreciable quantity of loose bran (more than 0.5%) or giving unpleasant smell in respect of raw and parboiled rice.

Stock  of  A,  B  &  C  categories  conforming  to  FSSAI  standards  and free  from  insect  infestation  are  prescribed  for  issue  under  the  PDS  and other Welfare Schemes of the Govt. of India, provided the refractions are only  upto  20%  in  excess  of  the  Uniform  Specifications  of  the  relevant marketing  season  in  respect  of  broken  grains,  chalky  grains,  red  grains, dehusked grains and the incidence of foreign matter does not exceeded 1% including rice bran. Inorganic foreign matter should not exceed 0. 5%.

*****

## ANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b)&(c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO 368 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2017 IN LOK SABHA.

| Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for the year 2015-2016   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for the year 2015-2016   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for the year 2015-2016   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for the year 2015-2016   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for the year 2015-2016   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for the year 2015-2016   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for the year 2015-2016   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for the year 2015-2016   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for the year 2015-2016   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sr. No                                                           | Name of the State/ U.T.                                          | Total No. of samples received                                    | No. of Samples Analyzed                                          | No. of Samples found adulterated and                             | No. of Cases Launched                                            | No. of Cases Launched                                            | No. of Convictions/ Penalties                                    | No. of Convictions/ Penalties                                    |
| Sr. No                                                           | Name of the State/ U.T.                                          | Total No. of samples received                                    | No. of Samples Analyzed                                          | Misbranded                                                       | Criminal                                                         | Civil                                                            | Convictio ns                                                     | Penalties/ Amount raised in Rupees                               |
| 1.                                                               | A&N Islands                                                      | 156                                                              | 156                                                              | 25                                                               | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | Rs. 2,71,000                                                     |
| 2.                                                               | Andhra Pradesh                                                   | 4860                                                             | 4860                                                             | 870                                                              | 194                                                              | 347                                                              | 4                                                                | 83/ Rs. 52,15,000                                                |
| 3.                                                               | Arunachal Pradesh                                                | 290                                                              | 290                                                              | 30                                                               | 0                                                                | 28                                                               | 0                                                                | 5/ Rs. 15,000                                                    |
| 4.                                                               | Assam                                                            | 503                                                              | 503                                                              | 72                                                               | 10                                                               | 80                                                               | 2                                                                | 4                                                                |
| 5.                                                               | Bihar                                                            | 2032                                                             | 1447                                                             | 35                                                               | 0                                                                | 93                                                               | 0                                                                | 4/ RS. 20,000                                                    |
| 6.                                                               | Chandigarh                                                       | 206                                                              | 206                                                              | 15                                                               |                                                                  | 15                                                               | 0                                                                | Rs. 10,52,000                                                    |
| 7.                                                               | Chhattisgarh                                                     | 1026                                                             | 1026                                                             | 298                                                              | 3                                                                | 17                                                               | 0                                                                | Rs. 85,000                                                       |
| 8.                                                               | Dadra& N.H                                                       | 65                                                               | 65                                                               | 5                                                                | 0                                                                | 2                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                |
| 9.                                                               | Daman& Diu                                                       | 106                                                              | 106                                                              | 11                                                               | 0                                                                | 11                                                               | 0                                                                | 0                                                                |
| 10.                                                              | Delhi                                                            | 1472                                                             | 1472                                                             | 239                                                              | 149                                                              | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | Rs. 44,82,500                                                    |
| 11.                                                              | Goa                                                              | 1132                                                             | 1155                                                             | 72                                                               | 0                                                                | 4                                                                | 1                                                                | 1/ Rs. 5,000                                                     |
| 12.                                                              | Gujarat                                                          | 15115                                                            | 14891                                                            | 1242                                                             | 30                                                               | 507                                                              | 1                                                                | 182/ Rs. 1,90,05,906                                             |
| 13.                                                              | Haryana                                                          | 2121                                                             | 2063                                                             | 180                                                              | 7                                                                | 149                                                              | 0                                                                | 111/ Rs. 27,43,600                                               |
| 14.                                                              | Himachal Pradesh                                                 | 415                                                              | 390                                                              | 53                                                               | 22                                                               | 12                                                               | 25                                                               | Rs. 9,50,000                                                     |
| 15.                                                              | Jammu& Kashmir                                                   | 1354                                                             | 1215                                                             | 334                                                              | 1                                                                | 335                                                              | 215                                                              | Rs. 22,14,400                                                    |
| 16.                                                              | Karnataka                                                        | 2894                                                             | 2340                                                             | 433                                                              |                                                                  | 58                                                               | 0                                                                | Rs. 4,36,000                                                     |
| 17.                                                              | Kerala                                                           | 2364                                                             | 2196                                                             | 459                                                              | 138                                                              | 246                                                              | 17                                                               | 44 / Rs. 66,33,500                                               |
| 18.                                                              | Madhya Pradesh                                                   | 10035                                                            | 9994                                                             | 1311                                                             | 82                                                               | 879                                                              | 36                                                               | 447/ Rs. 4,48,26,000                                             |
| 19.                                                              | Maharashtra                                                      | 2019                                                             | 1400                                                             | 345                                                              | 396                                                              | 85                                                               |                                                                  | Rs. 12,25,500                                                    |
| 20.                                                              | Manipur                                                          | 67                                                               | 67                                                               | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | 8                                                                | 8                                                                | 8/ Rs. 1,64,000                                                  |
| 21.                                                              | Meghalaya                                                        | 124                                                              | 87                                                               | 4                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                |
| 22.                                                              | Mizoram                                                          | 24                                                               | 17                                                               | 4                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                |
| 23.                                                              | Nagaland                                                         | 187                                                              | 187                                                              | 76                                                               |                                                                  | 32                                                               | 20                                                               | 20/ Rs. 10,000                                                   |
| 24.                                                              | Odisha                                                           | 211                                                              | 211                                                              | 61                                                               |                                                                  | 2                                                                |                                                                  | 1                                                                |
| 25.                                                              | Puducherry                                                       | 827                                                              | 827                                                              | 11                                                               | 0                                                                | 1                                                                | 0                                                                | 1/ Rs. 5,000                                                     |
| 26.                                                              | Sikkim                                                           | 5                                                                | 5                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                | 0                                                                |
| 27.                                                              | Tamil Nadu                                                       | 1742                                                             | 1783                                                             | 607                                                              | 107                                                              | 308                                                              | 23                                                               | 202/ Rs. 58,90,800                                               |
| 28.                                                              | Tripura                                                          | 814                                                              | 814                                                              | 17                                                               |                                                                  | 5                                                                | 0                                                                | Rs. 2,750                                                        |
| 29.                                                              | Uttar Pradesh                                                    | 17726                                                            | 14833                                                            | 7189                                                             | 506                                                              | 4864                                                             | 164                                                              | 2370/ Rs. 11,51,20,480                                           |
| 30.                                                              | Uttrakhand                                                       | 1073                                                             | 1073                                                             | 183                                                              | 10                                                               | 95                                                               | 0                                                                | Rs. 15,35,000                                                    |
| 31.                                                              | West Bengal                                                      | 154                                                              | 154                                                              | 102                                                              | 1                                                                | 13                                                               | 0                                                                | 0                                                                |
|                                                                  | Total                                                            | 71,119                                                           | 65,833                                                           | 14,283                                                           | 1,656                                                            | 8196                                                             | 516                                                              | 3,483/Rs. 21,19,08,436                                           |

*****

## ANNEXURE-III

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d)&(e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO 368 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2017 IN LOK SABHA.

## STATEMENT  SHOWING  RESULTS  OF  ACTION  TAKEN  BY  THE  STATE/UT GOVERNMENTS UNDER RELEVANT CLAUSES OF THE PDS/TPDS (CONTROL) ORDERS FROM JANUARY 2015 TO DECEMBER, 2016.

| Sl. No.   | Name of the State/UT   | Year                     | Number of inspections   | Number of raids conducted   | Number of persons arrested/ prosecuted/ convicted   | Number of FPS Licenses suspended/ Cancelled/Show cause notices issued/FIR Lodged   |
|-----------|------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh         | 2015                     | 11803                   | 2072                        | 53                                                  | 2534                                                                               |
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh         | 2016                     | 2889                    | 832                         | 0                                                   | 0                                                                                  |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh      | 2015                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh      | 2016                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 3         | Assam                  | 2015                     | 1352                    | 849                         | 00                                                  | 124                                                                                |
| 3         | Assam                  | 2016                     | 772                     | 272                         | 00                                                  | 36                                                                                 |
| 4         | Bihar                  | 2015                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 4         | Bihar                  | 2016                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh           | 2015                     | 4811                    | 561                         | 0                                                   | 149                                                                                |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh           | 2016                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 6         | Delhi                  | 2015                     | 1381                    | 149                         | 08                                                  | 755                                                                                |
| 6         | Delhi                  | 2016                     | 306                     | 2                           | 0                                                   | 6                                                                                  |
| 7         | Goa                    | 2015                     | 145                     | 03                          | 00                                                  | 25                                                                                 |
| 7         | Goa                    | 2016                     | 417                     | 10                          | 00                                                  | 20                                                                                 |
| 8         | Gujarat                | 2015                     | 6958                    | 00                          | 11                                                  | 284                                                                                |
| 8         | Gujarat                | 2016                     | 4166                    | 00                          | 01                                                  | 274                                                                                |
| 9         | Haryana                | 2015                     | 0                       | 0                           | 0                                                   | 0                                                                                  |
| 9         | Haryana                | 2016                     | 1481                    | 105                         | 4                                                   | 919                                                                                |
| 10        | Himachal Pradesh       | 2015                     | 3138                    | 00                          | 00                                                  | 325                                                                                |
| 10        | Himachal Pradesh       | 2016                     | 4322                    | 00                          | 00                                                  | 1026                                                                               |
| 11        | (Till Sep 2016) Jammu& | 2015                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 11        | (Till Sep 2016) Jammu& | 2016                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 12        | Kashmir Jharkhand      | 2015                     | 417                     | 4                           | 9                                                   | 66                                                                                 |
| 12        | Kashmir Jharkhand      | 2016                     | 438                     | 18                          | 32                                                  | 107                                                                                |
| 13        | Karnataka              | 2015                     | 61078                   | 614                         | 145                                                 | 520                                                                                |
| 13        | Karnataka              | 2016                     | 29620                   | 372                         | 33                                                  | 202                                                                                |
| 14        | Kerala                 | 2015                     | 78505                   | 18269                       | 33                                                  | 108                                                                                |
| 14        | Kerala                 | 2016                     | 85047                   | 22431                       | 08                                                  | 103                                                                                |
| 15        | Madhya Pradesh         | 2015                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 15        | Madhya Pradesh         | 2016                     | *                       |                             | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 16        | Maharashtra            | 2015                     | 103820                  | * 7490                      | 101                                                 | 891                                                                                |
| 16        | Maharashtra            | 2016                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 17        | Manipur                | 2015                     | 54                      | 20                          | 00                                                  | 00                                                                                 |
| 17        | Manipur                | 2016                     | 06                      | 03                          | 00                                                  | 00                                                                                 |
| 18        | Meghalaya              | 2015                     | 546                     | 13                          | 00                                                  | 00                                                                                 |
| 18        | Meghalaya              | 2016 (April to Aug 2016) | 222                     | 1                           | 00                                                  | 00                                                                                 |
| 19        | Mizoram                | 2015                     | 166                     | 103                         | 02                                                  | 00                                                                                 |
| 19        | Mizoram                | 2016                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 20        | Nagaland               | 2015                     | 221                     | 00                          | 00                                                  | 00                                                                                 |
| 20        | Nagaland               |                          |                         | 12                          |                                                     |                                                                                    |
|           |                        | 2016                     | 76                      |                             | 3                                                   | 2                                                                                  |
| 21        | Odisha                 | 2015                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |
| 21        | Odisha                 | 2016                     | *                       | *                           | *                                                   | *                                                                                  |

| 22                     | Punjab                 | 2015                   | 57422   | 1453   | 02    | 1451   |
|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|---------|--------|-------|--------|
| 22                     | Punjab                 | 2016                   | *       | *      | *     | *      |
| 23                     | Rajasthan              | 2015                   | *       | *      | *     | *      |
| 23                     | Rajasthan              | 2016                   | *       | *      | *     | *      |
| 24                     | Sikkim                 | 2015                   | 518     | 55     | 00    | 00     |
| 24                     | Sikkim                 | 2016 (Till Aug)        | 820     | 119    | 00    | 00     |
| 25                     | Tamil Nadu             | 2015                   | 180520  | 7700   | 25    | 00     |
| 25                     | Tamil Nadu             | 2016                   | 149702  | 15821  | 7718  | 00     |
| 26                     | Tripura                | 2015                   | 11249   | 363    | 02    | 340    |
| 26                     | Tripura                | 2016                   | 8743    | 650    | 00    | 07     |
| 27                     | Uttrakhand             | 2015                   | *       | *      | *     | *      |
| 27                     | Uttrakhand             | 2016                   | *       | *      | *     | *      |
| 28                     | Uttar Pradesh          | 2015                   | 45376   | 00     | 1009  | 6665   |
| 28                     | Uttar Pradesh          | 2016                   | 62322   | 6961   | 887   | 6545   |
| 29                     | West Bengal            | 2015                   | 7680    | 52     | 00    | 462    |
| 29                     | West Bengal            | 2016                   | 19619   | 233    | 1     | 41     |
| 30                     | A&N Islands            | 2015                   | 369     | 00     | 00    | 15     |
| 30                     | A&N Islands            | 2016                   | *       | *      | *     | *      |
| 31                     | Chandigarh             | 2015                   | 410     | 15     | 09    | 04     |
| 31                     | Chandigarh             | 2016                   | 0       | 0      | 1     | 0      |
| 32                     | D&N Haveli             | 2015                   | 10      | 01     | 00    | 00     |
| 32                     | D&N Haveli             | 2016                   | *       | *      | *     | *      |
| 33                     | Daman &Diu             | 2015                   | 00      | 00     | 00    | 00     |
| 33                     | Daman &Diu             | 2016                   | *       | *      | *     | *      |
| 34                     | Lakshadweep            | 2015                   | 00      | 00     | 00    | 00     |
| 34                     | Lakshadweep            | 2016                   | *       | *      | *     | *      |
| 35                     | Puducherry             | 2015*                  | 2805    | 913    | 0     | 7      |
| 35                     | Puducherry             | 2016 (up to June 16)   | 1377    | 634    | 0     | 2      |
| Total                  | Total                  | 2015                   | 580754  | 40699  | 1409  | 14725  |
|                        |                        | 2016                   | 372345  | 48476  | 8688  | 9290   |
| Grand Total= 2015+2016 | Grand Total= 2015+2016 | Grand Total= 2015+2016 | 953099  | 89175  | 10097 | 24015  |

* Information not provided

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