Lok Sabha Question No. 285 (STARRED), answered on 2016-12-06
Subject: Public Distribution System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL, OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 th  DECEMBER, 2016

## PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

*285. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL: SHRI OM BIRLA:

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  aware  of  distribution  of  poor  quality foodgrains  under  the  Public  Distribution  System  (PDS)  and  if  so,  the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)   whether the Government has prescribed any standards quality of foodgrains to be distributed under PDS and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c)   the nature of various irregularities/corruption/malpractices noticed in the implementation of PDS and the corrective steps taken/proposed to plug the same; and
- (d)   whether the Government proposes to involve private companies in the supply chain management in PDS and if so, the details thereof ?

A N S W E R

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO 285 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 06.12.2016 IN THE LOK SABHA

- (a) & (b): Government has prescribed quality norms for foodgrains (wheat & rice)  to  be  distributed  under  the Public  Distribution  System  (PDS)  which  are given at Annex I.

In order to ensure that only good quality foodgrains are issued from FCI godowns  to  the  State  Governments  for  distribution  under  PDS,  standing instructions have been issued, as given in Annex II.

However, some complaints regarding distribution of poor quality foodgrains under PDS have been received. The details of these complaints and action taken during 2015-16 are at Annex III.

- (c ):   There have been complaints from individuals and organizations as well as in press reports relating to implementation of the PDS. These pertain to untimely  supply  of  foodgrains,  diversion  of  foodgrains,  inclusion/exclusion errors,  bogus/ineligible  ration  cards  being  in  circulation,  theft  of  foodgrains, irregular functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPS), beneficiaries not getting their entitled quota of foodgrains and allotment of FPSs in an arbitrary manner, etc. Under  the  National  Food  Security  [NFS]  Act,  2013  and  Targeted  Public Distribution System[TPDS] (Control) Orders, responsibility of  addressing these issues falls under the purview of respective State/UT Governments. Therefore, as and when  shortcomings/complaints are received by this Department,  these  are  referred  to  the  State/UT  Governments  concerned  for inquiry and appropriate action.
- (d): Government is implementing 'End-to-end Computerization of TPDS Operations' under 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) on cost sharing basis with the States/UTs. Component-I of the Scheme  comprises activities, namely, digitization  of  ration  cards/beneficiary  and  other  databases,  computerization of supply-chain management, setting up of transparency portals and grievance redressal  mechanisms.  Computerization  of  Supply  Chain  Management  has been taken up with the aim of timely availability of food grains to intended beneficiaries at Fair Price Shop (FPS) and check leakages/diversion of food grains etc.  National Informatics Centre (NIC) is the technical partner under the  scheme.  The  States/UTs  have  the  option  to  either  undertake  the implementation  of  the  scheme  themselves,  or  through  NIC  or  hire  System Integrators (SIs) for rolling out the technology solution at State level Any other aspects of supply chain management in PDS other than computerization are dealt by the respective State/UTs at their own level.

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## ANNEX-I

## ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a)& (b) OF STARRED QUESTION NO 285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  DECEMBER, 2016 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.         | Above 1% and upto 4%             |
| C.         | Above 4% and upto 7%             |
| D.         | Above 7% 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'                        | DAMAGED GRAIN                     | DISCOLOURED GRAIN                 |
|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Rawrice Parboiled                  | Upto 3%                           | Upto 3%                           |
| rice CATEGORY'B'                   | Upto 3%                           | Upto 3%                           |
| RawRice Parboiled Rice CATEGORY'C' | above 3% upto 4% above 3% upto 4% | above 3% upto 5% above 3% upto 5% |
| RawRice Parboiled Rice CATEGORY'D' | above 4% upto 5% above 4% upto 5% | above 5% upto 7% above 5% 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 exceed 1% including rice bran. Inorganic foreign matter should not exceed 0. 5%.

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## ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a)& (b) OF STARRED QUESTION NO 285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  DECEMBER, 2016 IN LOK SABHA.

## INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO STATE GOVERNMENTS/ UTs AND FCI TO ENSURE SUPPLY OF GOOD QUALITY FOODGRAINS  UNDER PDS

- (i) Only  good  quality  foodgrains  free  from  insect  infestation  and  conforming  to  Food  Safety Standards are to be issued under PDS.
- (ii) Ample  opportunities  are  to  be  provided  to  the  State  Government  to  check  the  quality  of foodgrains prior lifting the foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
- (iii) Samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to be issued under the PDS jointly by FCI and State Governments/UT Administrations.
- (iv) An officer not below the rank of Inspector is to be deputed from State Government to take the delivery of foodgrain stocks from FCI godowns.
- (v) Regular inspection  to check the quality of foodgrains is to  be carried out  by  the officers of State Government.
- (vi) It is the responsibility of the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations to ensure that during transportation and storage at different stages in the distribution chain, the foodgrains retain the required quality specifications.
- (vii) The State Government,  where the decentralized  procurement is in operation, should ensure that the quality of foodgrains issued under  PDS and other  welfare schemes should  meet the desired standards prescribed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

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## ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a)& (b) OF STARRED QUESTION NO 285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  DECEMBER, 2016 IN LOK SABHA.

## STATE-WISE  DETAILS  OF  THE  COMPLAINTS  REGARDING  DISTRIBUTION  OF  POOR QUALITY  FOODGRAINS  UNDER  THE  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION  SYSTEM  (PDS)  AND ACTION TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT DURING THE YEAR 2015-16

| State      | Complaint                                                                                                                                            | Action Taken by the Government                                                                                     |
|------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| NCT, Delhi | A complaint was received from Indraprastha Welfare Association, New Delhi regarding Supply of poor quality of foodgrain in Moti Nagar, Area of Delhi | The complaint was got investigated by deputing an officer of the Ministry. The complaint was not found to be true. |

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