Lok Sabha Question No. 4973 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-23
Subject: Starvation Deaths
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Feroze Varun Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MtNISTRY  OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtC  DTSTRIBUT|ON DEPARTMET{T OF FOOD AI{D PUBLIC DTSTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED OUESTION NO. 4973 TO BE ANSWERED  ON 23'd JULY, 2Ot9

## STARVATION  DEATHS

## 4973. SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHT:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLTC DISTRIBUTION  5nfitril TrIril, sr{q dtr sr{-ofro Fiilwr d'+ be pleased to state:

- (a)  the data of deaths due to starvation in lndia in 2Ol8-{9,  State/UTwise;
- (b)  the steps being taken by the Government  to reduce the number of deaths due to starvation;  and
- (c)  the steps being taken by the Government to  provide easy restoration  of ration cards to the families as the major cause of deaths were unavailability  of ration due to cancellation  of the ration cards?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF GONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD &

## PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

(sHRr DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

- (a): ilo State Government/Union  Territory Administration  has reported any incident of death due to starvation in the country so far. A few reports have ofJate appeared  in the media alleging  starvation deaths in some states, but on enquiry, the allegations of death due to starvation have not been substantiated.
- (b) & (c): The Government  of lndia accords  hagh priority to the issue of hunger and has been providing foodgrains at highly subsidized prices to the targeted  population through State Governments/Union  Territory Administrations  under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in accordance with the provisions  of Nationa!  Food Security Act (NFSA), 20'13 and Other Welfare Schemes  (OWS).

NFSA provades  for coverage  of upto 75o/o ol the rural population  and upto 5O7o  of the urban population for receiving foodgrains  under TPDS, thus covering about two-thirds  of the population of the country for receiving foodgrains  @ Rs 11213 per kg for nutri-cereals/wheat/rice respectively. ldentification of beneficiaries  under the Act is under two categories. households covered  under Antyodaya  Anna Yoiana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH), within the coverage determined for the State/UT. While Priority Households are entitled to receive 5 kg per person per month, AAY households, which constitute the poorest of the poor, continue  to receive  35 Kg of foodgrains per household  per month. At present, the Act is being implemented in al! the States/UTs  covering about 8O crore persons to get highly subsidized foodgrains.  During the year 20{8-{9, the Government  allocated  a quantity ot 612.18 lakh MT of foodgrains to the States/UTs under NFSA, Other Welfare Schemes  and allocations due to natural calamities and festivals.

Government of lndia has issued advisories  to all States/UTs to identify  and cover the weakest sections of the society under PDS and launch special drives to issue ration cards to them. Glear lnstructions have been issued to a!! State/UTs that no person/household sha!! be deleted from the list of eligible households and denied of subsadized foodgrains or cash transfer under NFSA only on the grounds of not possessing Aadhaar. lnstructaons are also issued for providing  foodgrains even in  the  event of  authentication failure through alternative mechanisms.

Further, advisories have also been issued by the Government of lndia to States/UTs to put in place special dispensation that includes home delivery of the entitled quota of foodgrains and delivery through authorized nominees  in respect of beneficiaries  who are above 65 years of age or who are dafferently-abled and have no other adult family member listed in the Ration Gard and are not in a position to vasit Fair Price Shop themselves.