Lok Sabha Question No. 2139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Home Delivery of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: K. GOPAL, MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2139

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST  JULY, 2018

## HOME DELIVERY OF FOODGRAINS

2139.   DR. K. GOPAL:

## SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

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 NFSA has a provision for door step delivery of foodgrain under  PDS  to  the  beneficiaries,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  present status of it implementation, State-wise particularly in Gujarat;
- (b) whether  it  is  true  that  the  Union  Government  has  asked  the  State Governments to provide home delivery of highly subsidized foodgrains to the PDS beneficiaries to avoid instances of starvation deaths, if so, the details thereof and the response of the States thereto;
- (c) whether it is also true that these were among other reforms the State Governments have been asked to pursue urgently in order to strengthen the Public Distribution System and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps being taken to ensure supply of foodgrains under PDS?

## A N S W E R

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

(a):  Section  12  of  the  National  Food  Security  Act,  2013  states  that  the Central and State Government shall endeavour to  progressively undertake necessary reforms in the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) which include doorstep delivery of foodgrains  to the TPDS outlets. Further, Section 24  of  the  Act  mandates  the  State  Government  to  take  delivery  of  the foodgrains  from  the  designated  depots  of  the  Central  Government  in  the State  and  organize  delivery  of  the  allocated  quantities  at  the  doorstep  of each fair price shop.

Presently, door-step delivery is being done in most of the States/Union Territories by their respective Civil Supplies Corporation through private transporters or by themselves. In the State of Gujarat, doorstep delivery of foodgrains is being done by State Civil Supply Corporation by hiring private contractors through tender system. The state-wise status is at Annexure.

Government has also issued instruction to the States/UTs to put in place special dispensation for distribution of foodgrains to beneficiaries who are unable to visit the FPS for reasons such as old age, physical disability, etc. by adopting either Home Delivery of foodgrains through the FPS dealer or Delivery of foodgrains through authorized nominees of such beneficiaries.

(b)  to  (d):      To  ensure  assured  regular  supply  of  subsidized  foodgrains  to beneficiaries  through  Public  Distribution  System,  several  reform  measures have  been  undertaken  since the inception of NFSA.    Government  is implementing a scheme on 'End-to-End Computerization of PDS Operations' with  an  aim  to  improve  the  efficiency  and  effectiveness  of  PDS  and  to address  challenges  of  leakages  and  diversion  of  foodgrains,  fake/bogus ration  cards  etc.  Key  components  of  the  scheme  are  digitization  of  ration cards/beneficiaries, automation of supply chain management, online grievance  redressal  and  automation  of  fair  price  shops  (FPSs)  by  use  of electronic point of sale (ePoS) devices.

Government  has  been  regularly  issuing  advisories/instructions  to States/UTs to review their lists of beneficiaries under NFSA, launch special drives to issue ration cards to the weaker sections of the society and ensure supply of foodgrains through PDS to all eligible beneficiaries.

***

## ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a)  OF  THE  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2139 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 31.07.2018 IN LOK SABHA

State-wise status of Door Step Delivery of foodgrains under NFSA

| Sl.No   | Name of State         | Door Step Delivery                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.      | Andhra Pradesh        | Being organized by Civil Supply Corporation through private transporters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 2.      | Arunachal Pradesh     | Done by State Govt through Private transporters. In remote areas, it is done through IAF helicopters/air dropping/ sorties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 3.      | Assam                 | 10% through private transporters selected by Tender, and remaining 90% through Gram Panchayat Samanvay Samiti/Whole sale consumer coop Societies/large area multipurpose societies.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 4.      | Bihar                 | Being done by Bihar State Food Supply Corporation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 5.      | Chhattisgarh          | Yes, the Chhattisgarh State Civil Supply Corp. does it through hired private transporters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 6.      | Goa                   | By Deptt. of F &CSthrough contractors upto Taluka. FPS owners lift foodgrains from Taluka.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 7.      | Delhi                 | By Civil Supply Corporation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 8.      | Gujarat               | Being done by State Civil Supply Corporation by hiring private contractors through tender system. They lift the foodgrains and deliver at FPS level under instructions from Collector and GSCSC. Signature of VVC member is taken on delivery challan.                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 9.      | Haryana               | Being done by CONFED, wholly Govt. controlled and financed federation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 10.     | Himachal Pradesh      | State Government reimburses freight charges to FPS holders for lifting foodgrains from wholesale godowns of HP State Civil Supplies Corporation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 11.     | Jharkhand             | Deptt. F &CSorganized door-step delivery through hired private transporters                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 12.     | J&K                   | In some areas, State Government is providing foodgrains through a network of Government sale depots held by the salesmen (Govt employees). In other areas, it is done by FPS owners engaged on commission basis.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 13.     | Karnataka             | Door step delivery is being organized by the Department through hired private transporters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 14.     | Kerala                | Civil Supplies Corporation is organizing door step delivery through private transporters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 15.     | Madhya Pradesh        | Being done by Civil Supplies Corporation and no private agents are involved.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 16.     | Maharashtra           | Transportation of foodgrains from FCI depot to State Government godown and from State Government godown to FPS is done at full Government cost by Government appointed private contractor for each district on tender basis. In 17 districts, the tender process has been completed. However, in 5 MTRAregions, 5 cities and 28 districts, the State Government has introduced direct transportation of foodgrains from FCI godowns to FPSs through tender system. |
| 17.     | Manipur               | Through private transporters by the State Government Department.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 18.     | Mizoram               | The FPS dealers lift the foodgrains and are reimbursed by the State Government.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 19.     | Meghalaya             | Through private agents.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 20.     | Nagaland              | Being done through hired private transporters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 21.     | Odisha                | Being done by Civil Supplies Corporation through Pvt. Transporters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 22.     | Punjab                | Distribution of foodgrains in bulk i.e. 6 monthly entitlement is done directly to the beneficiaries by the Departmental inspectors at village level by associating FPS owners                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 23.     | Sikkim                | Delivery upto FPSs with assistance of Government.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 24.     | Rajasthan             | By State F&CS Corporation/ Kray/Vikray Sahkari Samiti.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 25.     | Tamil Nadu            | Through coop. societies that run the FPSs and make their own arrangement to transport the foodgrains.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 26.     | Telangana             | Being done by Civil supply Corporation by hiring private transporters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 27.     | Tripura               | Being done by private transporters hired by Civil Supply Corporation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 28.     | Uttar Pradesh         | Being done by CSC in some districts and in the remaining by FPS dealers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 29.     | Uttarakhand           | Being done by State Government through private transporters upto Block level State godowns. Thereafter upto FPS, it is being done by FPS owners who are reimbursed the expenditure incurred.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 30.     | West Bengal           | Being done through private transporters hired by Distributers/ wholesellers approved by State Government.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 31.     | Andaman& Nicobar      | Done by FPS dealers. Cost of transportation being reimbursed to FPS dealers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 32.     | Daman &Diu            | By private transporters hired by the Food Deptt./ Civil Supply Corporation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 33.     | Dadra &Nagra Haveli   | Done by UT Administration.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 34.     | Lakshadweep           | Through Co-operative Societies.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 35. 36. | Chandigarh Puducherry | Does not arise as the UT is under DBT. Does not arise as the UT is under DBT.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |