Lok Sabha Question No. 2740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Universal PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SULTAN  AHMED, RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2740 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  AUGUST, 2017

## UNIVERSAL PDS

## 2740.   SHRI SULTAN AHMED:

## SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO:

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 proposes to reintroduce universal PDS, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the last time review was undertaken to know the functioning of the targeted PDS in the country and the main findings of such a review;
- (c) whether everything is moving in the right direction about Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS);
- (d) whether  there  are  any  major  grievances  or  complaints  about Targeted  Public  Distribution  System  (TPDS)  in  the  last  3  years,  if  so,  the details of the grievances redressal mechanism in the Ministry; and
- (e) the major changes brought about in the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in the last 3 years to ensure that its fruits reach the desired destination ?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a): There is no such proposal under consideration. Public Distribution is being  implemented  under  the  provisions  of  National  Food  Security  Act,
- which was enacted in 2013.
- (b)&(c): During 2014-15, an evaluation study on functioning of TPDS/NFSA,  was  conducted  in  the  states  of  Assam,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh, Karnataka,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  West  Bengal  through  National  Council  of Applied  Economic  Research  (NCAER).  The  functioning  of  PDS  is  reviewed periodically  by  the  Government  through  meetings,  workshops  and  field visits.  Major  areas  identified  for  improvement  include  inter-alia  error-free database of beneficiaries, preventing gaps in institutional preparedness to check leakage/diversions of foodgrains and greater transparency in maintaining records.

(d): There have been complaints/reports from individuals, organizations and media relating to untimely supply of foodgrains, leakage/diversions of foodgrains, irregularities in allotment of fair price shops, etc. NFSA provides for grievance redressal mechanism which includes setting up of State Food Commission, appointment of District Grievance Redressal Officers (DGRO) and  setting  up  of  Vigilance  Committee  at  State/District/Block  and  FPS levels.

(e): For  effective  implementation  of  the  Public  Distribution  System (PDS), Government is implementing a scheme on 'End-to-end Computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) Operations'. The scheme comprises digitization of ration cards/beneficiaries and other databases, online allocation, computerization of supply-chain management, setting up of transparency portal etc. Under the scheme, ration cards/beneficiaries database have been completely digitized in all States/UTs, transparency portal and online grievance redressal facility/Tollfree number have been implemented in all States/UTs, online allocation has been implemented in 30 States/UTs and supply chain has been computerized  in  20  States/UTs.  Besides,  Central  Govt.  has  also  asked States/UTs  to  opt  for  any  of  the  two  models  of  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  Cash transfer of food subsidy into the bank account of beneficiaries or Fair Price  Shop  (FPS)  automation,  which  involves  installation  of  Point  of  Sale (PoS)  device  at  FPS,  for  authentication  of  beneficiaries  and  electronic capturing  of  transactions.  The  cash  transfer  of  food  subsidy  is  being implemented in 3 UTs namely Chandigarh, Puducherry w.e.f. 01-09-2015 and partially  in  Dadra  &  Nagar  Haveli  w.e.f.  01-03-2016.  For  remaining  areas, more  than  2.54  lakhs  FPSs  out  of  5.27  lakhs  FPSs  have  been  automated across the country.

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