Lok Sabha Question No. 612 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-19
Subject: Starvation Deaths
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: KALYAN BANERJEE, MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 612

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## STARVATION DEATHS

612. SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE: SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

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 it is true that inspite of 5.2 lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country  covering  80.7  crore  persons  under  NFSA,  starvation  death  still persist  in  our  country  and  if  so,  the  number  of  starvation  deaths  reported during the last five years, year-wise under a digitized e-governance system;
- (b) the top 10 States where these deaths occurred along with the number of deaths;
- (c) the steps taken by the State and Union Governments to check deaths due to starvation, in the future; and
- (d)  whether  any  compensation is given to the families of people who  have died due to starvation and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

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

- (a) to (d):  So far as Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India is concerned, no State Government/Union Territory Administration has reported  any  incident  of  death  due  to  starvation  so  far.    There  have  been media  reports  of  starvation  deaths  in  Jharkhand  and  UP,  however,  on enquiry, the State Governments informed that the allegations of deaths due to starvation have not been substantiated.

To eradicate the problem of starvation and to provide food security to the vulnerable population, the Government has been providing food grains at State Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations  under  the  Targeted  Public Distribution System (TPDS) in terms of National Food Security Act, 2013 and highly subsidized prices to the targeted population through Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).

National  Food  Security  Act  (NFSA),  2013  provides  for  coverage  of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population thus covering about two-third of the population for receiving foodgrains at highly subsidized  prices  of  Rs.3,  2  &  1  per  Kg  for  rice,  wheat  &  coarsegrains respectively under TPDS.

The Targeted Public Distribution System is operated under the joint responsibility  of  the  Central  Govt.  and  the  State  Govt./Union  Territory Administration. Central Govt. is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the  Food Corporation of India. The  operational responsibilities for allocation of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries/families,  issuance  of  ration  cards  to  them,  distribution  of foodgrains  to  eligible  beneficiaries  under  TPDS  and  supervision  over  and monitoring  of  functioning  of  Fair  Price  Shops  (FPSs),  etc.  rest  with  the concerned State Govt./Union Territory Administration.

During the year 2016-17, the Govt. of India allocated 628.68 lakh tons of foodgrains under TPDS, NFSA and OWS. This includes allocation of 542.49 lakh  tons  under  TPDS,  1.87  lakh  tons  additional  APL  and  BPL  allocation, 29.03  lakh  tons  for  natural  calamities,  additional  TPDS  requirements  etc., and allocation of 55.29 lakh tons of foodgrains under OWS. During the current year  2017-18,  the  Govt.  of  India  has  so  far  allocated  606.43  lakh  tons  of foodgrains under TPDS, NFSA and OWS.

The  States/UTs  on  their  part  have  established  grievance  redressal mechanism  for  redressal  of  any  complaint  regarding  denial  of  ration  i.e. through State Food Commission, DGROs, Toll Free Number, online grievance registration and through departmental officers/officials.

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