Lok Sabha Question No. 5111 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: New Ration Cards
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5111 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## NEW RATION CARDS

5111.   DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

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 has issued new ration cards to improve the functioning of Public Distribution System (PDS) in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c): whether the Government has received complaints that PDS items are not being distributed as per the new ration cards in the States;
- (d): if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (e): whether the Government has formulated any scheme to ensure easy and  adequate  supply  of  foodgrains  and  kerosene  oil  to  the  people/farmers especially in the deserts, hilly, backward and rural areas of the country; and
- (f): if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

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

- (a)  to  (b)  Under  National  Food  Security  Act,  [NFSA]  2013,  beneficiaries  are identified  under  two  categories  namely:  Antyodaya  Anna  Yojna  (AAY) Households,  and  Priority  Households  (PHH).  Presently,  about  23.2  crore ration  cards  covered  more  than  80  crore  eligible  beneficiaries  have  been issued under NFSA by State/UT Governments.

- (c)  to  (d)  Public  Distribution  System  (PDS)  is  operated  under  the  joint responsibility  of  the  Central  and  State/UT  Governments.  Therefore,  as  and when  complaints  are  received  by  the  Department  from  individuals  and organizations  as  well  as  through  press  reports,  these  are  sent  to  concern State/UT  for  inquiry  and  appropriate  action.    An  offence  committed  in violation of the provisions of TPDS (C) Order, 2015 is liable for penal action under  the  Essential  Commodities  Act,  1955.  Thus,  the  Order  empowers State/UT  Governments  to  take  punitive  action  in  case  of  contravention  of relevant provisions of these Orders.
- (e)  to  (f)  :      Foodgrains  are  distributed  to  eligible  beneficiaries  through  a network  of  approximately  5.27  lakh  Fair  Price  Shops  across  the  country including deserts, hilly, backward and rural areas. The State/UT Governments are required to ensure that the number of ration card holders attached to a Fair  Price  Shop  are  reasonable,  the  fair  price  shop  is  so  located  that  the consumer or ration card holder does not have to face difficulty in reaching the Fair Price Shop and that proper coverage is ensured in hilly, desert, tribal and  such  other  difficult  -  to  -  access  areas.  Besides,  Department  has  also permitted State/UT Governments to lift and distribute subsidised foodgrains upto  six  months  in  one  installment  to  beneficiaries  for  ensuring  easy  and adequate supply.

As far as Kerosene is concerned, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas makes allocation of PDS Kerosene to States/UTs on quarterly basis for the purpose  of  cooking  and  lighting  only.  Further  distribution  of  the  PDS Kerosene within the States/UTs under PDS network to various categories of ration  card  holders/consumers  is  made  by  the  concerned  State/UT  after deciding the scale and criteria of distribution.

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