Lok Sabha Question No. 1739 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: National Food Security Act
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1739 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  JULY, 2019

## NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT

## 1739. SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC be  pleased  to

DISTRIBUTION उपभोक्ता त मल , ाखतद्ा औा तावर्ज�ाका्औता  मं state:

- (a) the details of food stocks in the country as of June, 2019;
- (b) whether  it  is  true  that  there  is  a  proposal  to  provide  additional rice/wheat and sugar at subsidized rate to the poor under National Food Security Act, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  there  is  any  plan  to  release  rice/wheat  and  sugar  in  the open market at subsidized rate, if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &

A N S W E R PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI   DANVE  RAOSAHEB   DADARAO)

(a) to (b):   The  stock  of  foodgrains  in  the  Central  Pool  as  on  1 st June, 2019  was  741.41  lakh  tons  consisting  of  275.81  lakh  tons  of  rice  and 465.60 lakh tons of wheat.

Government of India enacted National Food Security Act (NFSA) in July, 2013 which gives legal entitlement to 67% of the population (75% in rural  areas  and  50%  in  urban  areas)  to  receive  highly  subsidized foodgrains. Under the Act, foodgrain is allocated @ 5 kg per person per month for priority households category and @ 35 kg per family per month for AAY families at a highly subsidized prices of Rs. 1/-, Rs. 2/- and Rs. 3/per kg for nutri-cereals, wheat and rice respectively. Coverage under the Act is based on the population figures of Census, 2011. The Act is now being  implemented  in  all  36  States/UTs  and  covers  about  81.35  crore persons. The annual allocation of foodgrain under National Food Security Act and Other Welfare Schemes is about 610 Lakh Metric Tons.

The coverage of the sugar subsidy scheme introduced with effect from  June,  2013,  after  de-regulation  of  sugar  sector,  targeted    Below Poverty Line (BPL) population (inclusive of poorest of poor person in the country i.e. AAY families) and all the population of North Eastern States/ Special  Category  States/  Hilly  States  and  Island  Territories.  Now,  the NFSA  is  being  universally  implemented  in  the  country.  There  is  no identified category of BPL under the NFSA. However, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries are clearly identified. As such, the Government  of  India  has  reviewed  the  Sugar  Subsidy  Scheme  and decided to continue it for AAY families with effect from June, 2017. The Central Government is reimbursing a fixed subsidy of Rs. 18.50 per kg @ 1 Kg per month per AAY families to participating States/UTs'.

(c):   In  order  to  liquidate  the  excess  stock  of  foodgrain  in  the  Central Pool, Government of India avails the available options of disposal of the excess stock of foodgrain through Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) and Export on Government-to-Government  basis, as export from public stockholding is not compliant to WTO norms.'

Stock  of  wheat  and  rice  are  sold  to  bulk  consumer/traders/  State Government from the central Pool at pre-determined prices in the open market  from  time  to  time  through  e-tender  to  enhance  the  supply especially during the lean season and in the deficit regions and thereby to moderate the open market prices. 100 lakh metric tons of wheat and 50 lakh metric tons of rice has been set as target for sale under OMSS(D) during 2019-20.

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