opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Value of Cereals and Pulses
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.438

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  18 TH  JULY, 2017

## VALUE OF CEREALS AND PULSES

438.   SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the total values of cereals and pulses produced in the country have went down considerably in comparison to that of vegetables;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the effective measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE (  SHRI  S.S.

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè AHLUWALIA)

- (a) & (b): The total  value  of  cereals,  pulses  and  vegetables  since  2011-12  as  per National Accounts Statistics at Constant (2011-12) prices are given below :-

(Rs. In  crore)

| Item       |   2011-12 |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |
|------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1          |         2 |         3 |         4 |         5 |         6 |
| cereals    |    336359 |    330465 |    340034 |    326030 |    325047 |
| pulses     |     52151 |     55032 |     58138 |     51623 |     50748 |
| Vegetables |    155628 |    160015 |    164000 |    172206 |    173816 |

The production of vegetables increased at a faster pace with the implementation of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally sponsored Scheme  implemented  during  XII  Plan  for  holistic  growth  of  the  horticulture  sector covering all the horticulture crops including fruits and vegetables.

- (c): The  Government  is  implementing  inter-alia  a  number  of  schemes  to  increase production and productivity of foodgrains and horticulture crops namely National Food Security  Mission  (NFSM),  Bringing  Green  Revolution  to  Eastern  India  (BGREI), Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY),  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture (NMSA), Soil Health Card Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) etc.
- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 437 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Pollution in Daman Ganga River
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 437.

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  JULY, 2017/ POLLUTION IN DAMAN GANGA RIVER

ASHADHA 27, 1939 (SAKA)

437. SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  any  action  has  been  taken  by  Daman  &  Diu  Union  Territory Administration in consultation with State Government of Gujarat to submit a joint comprehensive proposal under National Conservation of River Plan to check pollution from Daman Ganga river to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether this Union Territory Administration has approached the State Government of Gujarat in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a): Regarding preparation of National River Conservation plan for abatement  of  pollution  in  Damanganga  River,  it  was  decided  in  a  joint meeting that Government of Gujarat and UT of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar  Haveli  have  to  work  out  a  joint  project  under  National  River Conservation  Programme  (NRCP)  of  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  & Climate Change. A comprehensive study has been carried out by National Environmental  Engineering  Research  Institute,  (NEERI)  Nagpur  for  the abatement  of  pollution  in Damanganga River.  The NEERI has submitted a

## L.S.US.Q.NO.437 FOR 18.7.2017

draft  final  report  to  the  UT  Administration  of  Daman  &  Diu  and  is  under examination in consultation with NEERI, Nagpur.

(b): The  UT  Administration  of  Daman  &  Diu  will  approach  the  Gujarat Government after submission of final report of NEERI for the abatement of pollution in the DamangangaRiver.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 435 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: GMP Norms
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 435

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 th  July, 2017

## GMP Norms

†435. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has given any instruction to the pharmaceutical companies to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) norms;
- (b) if so, whether the GMP norms is not being followed so far;
- (c) if so, whether the Government proposes to take any concrete steps to ensure its implementation; and
- (d) if so, the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY OF SHIPPING AND MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to (d): Manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs are regulated under provisions   of   Drugs   &   Cosmetics   Act,   1940   and   Rules,   1945   through   a system   of   Licencing   and   inspection.   Licence   for   manufacturing,   sale   & distribution of drugs are granted by the State Licencing Authorities appointed by respective State Governments. The existing regulatory provisions require the drug manufacturer to comply with all the conditions of license, which include compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as prescribed under Schedule 'M' of the said Rules, to ensure that the drugs manufactured by them are of standard quality. State Licensing Authorities are empowered to take action on violation of any conditions of such Licenses.

xxxxxx
Lok Sabha Question No. 432 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: AAY Beneficiaries
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: ASHWINI KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 432 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2017 AAY BENEFICIARIES

## 432.  SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR:

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

- (a) the number of Below Poverty Line and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries and their entitlements under the Public Distribution System in the States of Haryana and Punjab during each of the last three years;
- (b) whether the  States  have  lifted  their  full  allocated  quota  during  the period;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to increase the allocations in the near future; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## A N S W E R (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a)&(b): Under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), which has been adopted by all States, subsidized foodgrains at the rate of Rs. 3/2/1 for rice, wheat and coarse grains respectively, is provided to two categories viz. Priority households and those covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). BPL category  has been delinked from NFSA.

Priority households are entitled to receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per  month  while  the  AAY  households  receive  35  kg  of  foodgrains  per household  per  month.  Government  of  Haryana  and  Government  of  Punjab adopted NFSA in September, 2013 and December, 2013 respectively.

A  statement  indicating  number  of  ration  cards,  allocation  and  off  take  of foodgrains by State Government of Haryana and State Government of Punjab is attached.

- (c) & (d): There is no such proposal.

****

ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) of the LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 432 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 18.07.2017

(in thousand tonnes)

| States   | No. of   | No. of   | 2014-15    | 2014-15   | 2015-16    | 2015-16   | 2016-17    | 2016-17   |
|----------|----------|----------|------------|-----------|------------|-----------|------------|-----------|
|          | AAY      | PHH      | Allocation | Offtake   | Allocation | Offtake   | Allocation | Offtake   |
| Haryana  | 2.58     | 26.83    | 795.000    | 801.000   | 795.000    | 779.000   | 795.000    | 751.000   |
| Punjab   | 1.22     | 35.14    | 870.120    | 560.000   | 870.120    | 972.000   | 870.120    | 801.000   |

AAY - Antyodaya Anna Yojana PHH - Priority Households

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 428 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Assistance to Coconut Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.428

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  18 TH  JULY, 2017

## ASSISTANCE TO COCONUT FARMERS

428.   SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to support and encourage coconut farmers in the country; and
- (b) the details of the funds allocated to Tamil Nadu during the last five years for the coconut farmers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): Coconut  Development  Board  is  implementing  the  following  Schemes  through which financial and technical support is extended to encourage farmers in the country for coconut farming:-
1. Production and Distribution of Planting Material
- i.  Establishment of Demonstration cum Seed Production Farms and Commercial Nurseries
- ii. Establishment of Regional Coconut Nurseries for coconut seedling production
- iii.  Establishment of Nucleus Seed Garden
- iv. Establishment of Small Coconut Nurseries
2.   Expansion of Area under Coconut
3. Integrated Farming for Productivity Improvement for promotion of scientific management practices i.e.
- i. Laying out of Demonstration Plots  for productivity   improvement
- ii. Establishment of Organic Manure Units

4. Replanting and Rejuvenation of Coconut Gardens ,
2. 5.Technology Mission on Coconut for promoting processing and product diversification,
6. Publicity, Extension and Market Promotional activities and Export Promotion Council for exports and
7. Facilitation of formation of Farmer Producers' Organizations.

(b): The  details  of  funds  allocated  to  Tamil  Nadu  during  last  five  years  under  various schemes by Coconut Development Board are given below:-

| Year    |   Fund Allocated (Rs.in lakh) |
|---------|-------------------------------|
| 2012-13 |                        513.79 |
| 2013-14 |                        511.73 |
| 2014-15 |                        543.78 |
| 2015-16 |                       1190.29 |
| 2016-17 |                       3247.26 |
| Total   |                       6006.85 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Sown Area of Rabi Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: R. VANAROJA

## भारत सरकार कृ ष एवं कसान क  याण मंालय कृ ष, सहकारता एवं कसान क  याण वभाग

## लोक सभा अतारांकत   न सं  या 427 18 जुलाई, 2017 को उ  तराथ

वषय: रबी फसल का बुआई-े

427.  ीमती आर॰ वनरोजाः

या क ृ ष और कसान कयाण मंी यह बताने क क ृ पा करगे कः

- (क) या 26 नवबर, 2016 क िथत क े  अनुसार रबी फसल का क ु ल बुआई े गत वष क संगत अवध क तुलना म अधक है और यद हां, तो तसंबंधी यौरा या है;
- (ख) या उत अवध के  दौरान वमुकरण ने रबी फसल क बुआई को भावत नहं कया है; और
- (ग)
- यद हां, तो तसंबंधी यौरा या है?

## उ  तर कृ ष एवं कसान क  याण मंालय म रा  य मंी

## (ी एस. एस. अहलुवालया)

(क) से (ग): जी, हां। दनांक 25 नवंबर, 2016 क ि  थत क े  अनुसार, रबी फसल का क ु ल े 327.62 लाख है  टेयर था, जो पछले वष क संगत अवध क े  दौरान 313.17 लाख है  टेयर  े  कवरेज  क  तुलना  म  अधक  था।  तथाप,  ये  आंकडे अनुमानत  एवं  रा  य वारा ने आंकलन पर आधारत थे।

़

देश  म  एक  क ृ ष  वष  म  मुख  क ृ ष  फसल  क े   े,  उ पादन  और  पैदावार  का    यापक आकलन सम प से खरफ तथा रबी मौसम क े  लए कया जाता है। 2016-17 क े  लए तीसरे  अम अनुमान क े  अनुसार, रबी 2016-17 हेतु मुख क ृ ष फसल का अनुमानत े कवरेज 629.81 लाख है  टेयर था जो पछले वष क े  दौरान 612.37 लाख है  टेयर था। रबी े क े  अधीन अधक कवरेज यह दशाता है क वमुकरण का रबी बुआई पर कोई मह  वपूण वपरत भाव नहं पड़ा है।

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Ration Cards for BPL People
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 425 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2017

## RATION CARDS FOR BPL PEOPLE 425.  SHRI RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY:

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  needy  people  and  the  people  living  below  poverty  line have no ration cards in Jharkhand particularly in Ranchi district whereas the people living there have been demanding for the same;
- (b)
- if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this  regard  so  as  to  provide foodgrains at concessional rates to the people living below poverty line?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (c): The National Food Security Act (NFSA) provides for coverage of upto 86.48% of rural and 60.20% of urban population of Jharkhand for receiving highly subsidized foodgrains which at 2011 census population works out to be 264.25 lakh persons.

After implementation of NFSA, criteria of identification of beneficiaries/households has been delinked from BPL/APL categories and the  beneficiaries  are  identified  by  State/UT  Governments  under  two Categories namely  [i]Antyodaya Anna Yojana[AAY] Households and [ii] Priority Households. Eligible households are entitled to receive foodgrains[rice,  wheat  or  coarsegrains  or  any  combination  thereof]  at the rate of Rs. 3/-, 2/- and Re 1/- per kg respectively with entitlements of priority household being @  5 kgs per person per month and AAY families getting  @ 35 kgs per family per month.

Under  the  Act,  it  is  the  responsibility  of  the  State  Government  to identify AAY households to extent prescribed by the Central Government in  accordance  with  the  guidelines applicable  to  the  Scheme  and remaining households as priority households as per the criteria evolved by  them.  It  is  therefore  entirely  upto  the  State  Government  to  include any particular category of persons under priority category for receiving benefits under NFSA, or otherwise.

Implementation of the Act in Jharkhand has started w.e.f. October, 2015 and based on identification of beneficiaries reported by the State Government,  144.96  thousand  tons  of  foodgrains  per  month  is  being allocated to the State Government for 263.70 lakh persons, comprising 37.98  lakh  persons  belonging  to  9.17  lakh  AAY  households  and  225.72 lakh persons belonging to priority households.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 423 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Culling of Wild Boars
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 423

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## Culling of Wild Boars

## 423. SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether wild boars are included in the list of endangered animals under the provisions of the Wild Life Protection Act;
- (b) whether the Ministry is aware of any State or UT having issued a directive for culling of wild boars since they destroy the crop of the farmers and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the unqualified directive for culling of wild boar would lead to indiscriminate hunting of wild boar for meat etc. making the species extinct;
- (d) whether the culling of the wild boar is bound to affect the biodiversity of the region and if so, the details thereof, and
- (e) whether the Ministry would take up the matter with States concerned over the aforesaid issue and if so, the steps being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) Wild boars are listed in Schedule-III of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- (b) The Government is not aware of any State or UT having issued any directive for culling of wild boars.
- ( c) Does not arise.
- (d) The  culling  of  any  wild  animal  including  wild  boar,  may  affect  biological equilibrium.
- (e) There is no such proposal.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Death of Marine Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 422

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## Death of Marine Animals

## 422.    SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether mass death of rare fish and other marine animals have been reported in the sea;
- (b) if so the details and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether certain companies/organizations/persons have been responsible in this regard, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and
- (d) the corrective steps taken by the Government to protect the rare fish and marine animals in the sea?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a), (b) (c) and (d) The information is being collected and would be laid on the Table of the House.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Generic Medicines
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: YERRAM VENKATA SUBBAREDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 421

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 th  July, 2017

## Generic Medicines

421. SHRI Y.V. SUBBA REDDY:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that generic medicines are 80-90% cheaper than the branded and patented medicines;
- (b) if so, the reasons why the sale of generic medicines are not picking up in spite of so many initiatives;
- (c) whether it is a fact that people have lesser faith on generic medicines as compared to branded ones and doctors are also advising them to buy branded ones; and
- (d)   if   so,   the   reaction   of   the   Government   thereto   along   with   the   steps proposed to be taken to promote generic medicines?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY OF SHIPPING AND MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a): The Drug (Prices Control) Order 2013 (DPCO, 2013) does not distinguish between Generic and Branded/Patented Medicines for fixing the ceiling prices of scheduled medicines.

(b): In view of reply to (a) above, does not arise.

(c) & (d): The doctors prescribe medicines based on their wisdom keeping the best interest of the patients health in mind. However, the Government is taking various steps for encouraging use of generic medicines. The Medical Council   of   India   has   amended   the   Indian   Medical   Council   (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 on 08.10.2016 to provide a new para regarding use of generic names of drugs in prescription. The

Government is operating a Scheme, 'Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna'   (PMBJP)   for   providing   quality   generic   medicines   at   affordable prices in the country. Various publicity media are being used to popularize the PMBJP and for creating awareness of generic medicines.

xxxxxx
Lok Sabha Question No. 419 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Food Items under NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI, CHINTAMAN NAVSHA WANAGA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 419

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2017

## FOOD ITEMS UNDER NFSA

## 419.  SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI: ADV. CHINTAMAN NAVASHA WANAGA:

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

- (a) the details and quantum of food items being provided to States/UTs at subsidised rates for distribution to BPL families as envisaged under the National Food Security Act, 2013;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  stopped  supply  of  sugar  at  subsidised rates for distribution to BPL families through Public Distribution System in the States/UTs, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Union  Government  has  taken  a  decision  not  to  raise  the price of food items in Public Distribution System (PDS) shops and village level shops at least till the next year, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the long term policy of the Government with regard to food subsidy to BPL families?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a): Under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), the eligible households, which comprises of households covered under  Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority households, are entitled to receive foodgrains (rice, wheat or coarsegrains or any combination thereof) at highly subsidized  prices.  There is no BPL category under NFSA.

Currently 45.93 lakh tons of foodgrains per month are being allocated to the States/UTs under NFSA.

- (b):  The Government of India has reviewed the sugar subsidy scheme and it has been decided to continue the scheme  with restricted coverage of  AAY households  only,  which  constitute  poorest  of  the  poor,  in  order  to  give  them access to consumption of sugar as a source of energy in diet.  Such households are entitled to receive one kg. of sugar per family per month for which subsidy of Rs.18.50 per kg. will be provided by the Central Government to States/UTs.
- (c): Yes Madam, the highly subsidized prices of foodgrains under NFSA i.e. Rs.1/2/3 per kg. for coarsegrains/wheat/rice have been continued upto June, 2018.
- (d): Distribution of subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System is now governed by the provisions of NFSA.

****