Lok Sabha Question No. 624 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Digitization of PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 624

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  JUNE, 2019

## DIGITIZATION OF PDS

## 624. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION उपभोक्ता त मल , ाखतद्ा औा तावर्ज�ाका्औता  मं be pleased to state:

- (a) whether all the States in the country have taken the progressive steps to digitizing fair price shops/ration shops if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (b) if not, the reasons for their inability to commence the process of digitization;
- (c) the total number of fair price shops/ ration shops that have been digitized during each of the last three years, State-wise including Bihar;
- (d) whether end-to-end digitization of the Public Distribution System (PDS)  is  facing  any  hurdles  in  its  implementation,  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (e) the measures taken by the Government to fast-track digitization of PDS?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAMVILAS PASWAN)

(a) to (c): Department of Food and Public Distribution in collaboration with States/UTs is implementing a scheme on 'End-to-End Computerization of TPDS Operations' to improve the efficiency and transparency in Public Distribution  System  (PDS)  operations.  Under  Component-II  of  scheme comprises automation of Fair Price Shops (FPSs), which involves installation of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices  at FPSs  for authentication of beneficiaries and electronic recording of sale transactions. Presently, as per information received from States/UTs, out of total 5.34 lakh FPSs across the country, about 4.12 lakh FPSs have been automated so far.    A  statement  showing  automation  of  FPSs  during  last three years (State-wise including Bihar) is at Annexure.

(d) & (e): Initially  the  implementation  of  the  scheme  on  'End-to-End Computerization  of  TPDS  Operations'  was  slow  and  uneven  across  the country  due  to  delay  in  finalization  of  action  plans  by  States/UTs,  late submission  of  their proposal  for financial assistance  and  practical problems  faced  during  the  implementation.  However,  due  to  vigorous efforts  and  regular  monitoring  of  the  project  there  has  been  significant progress  in  implementation  of  the  scheme.  Ration  cards  have  been completely  digitized  in  all  States/UTs,  transparency  portal  and  online grievance redressal facility/Toll-free number have been implemented in all States/UTs, online allocation has been implemented in 34 States/UTs and supply chain has been computerized in 26 States/UTs. Progress is being monitored vigorously to ensure the automation of the remaining FPSs and Computerisation of Supply Chain Management in all States/UTs.

****

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (c)  OF  THE UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.624  DUE  FOR  ANSWERED  ON  25 th   JUNE, 2019 IN THE LOK SABHA.

## Statement showing status of FPS automation during last three years

| Sl.   |                                                                                   | Total No. of FPSs automation   | Total No. of FPSs automation   | Total No. of FPSs automation   | Total No. of FPSs automation      |
|-------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| No.   | States/UTS                                                                        | Dec' 2016 Operatio nal ePoS    | Dec' 2017 Operatio nal ePoS    | Dec' 2018 Operati onal ePoS    | Upto 12-06- 2019 Operational ePoS |
| 1     | Andhra Pradesh                                                                    | 29,082                         | 28,663                         | 28,663                         | 28,936                            |
| 2     | Andaman & Nicobar                                                                 | 290                            | 373                            | 401                            | 459                               |
| 3     | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                 |                                |                                | 28                             | 25                                |
| 4     | Assam                                                                             |                                |                                | 109                            |                                   |
| 5     | Bihar                                                                             |                                | 59                             | 62                             | 62                                |
| 6     | Chandigarh (on DBT Cash Transfers w.e.f Sept' 2015)                               | DBT                            |                                |                                |                                   |
| 7     | Chhattisgarh                                                                      | 12,128                         | 11,899                         | 11,953                         | 11,974                            |
| 8     | Dadra & Nagar Haveli (on DBT Cash Transfers in few urban areas w.e.f March' 2016) | 62                             | 62                             | 62                             | 63                                |
| 9     | Daman & Diu                                                                       | 51                             | 51                             | 51                             | 51                                |
| 10    | Delhi                                                                             | 28                             | 90                             |                                |                                   |
| 11    | Goa                                                                               | 42                             | 42                             | 406                            | 456                               |
| 12    | Gujarat                                                                           | 17,052                         | 17,209                         | 17,210                         | 17,210                            |
| 13    | Haryana                                                                           | 8,969                          | 9,491                          | 9,317                          | 9,526                             |
| 14    | Himachal Pradesh                                                                  |                                | 4,888                          | 4,933                          | 4,933                             |
| 15    | Jammu and Kashmir                                                                 |                                |                                | 6,411                          | 6,411                             |
| 16    | Jharkhand                                                                         | 20,361                         | 23,115                         | 23,926                         | 25,532                            |
| 17    | Karnataka                                                                         | 3,877                          | 16,143                         | 19,013                         | 19,514                            |
| 18    | Kerala                                                                            |                                |                                | 14,370                         | 14,299                            |

-2-

| 19                 | Lakshadweep                 |          |          | 39       | 39       |
|--------------------|-----------------------------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| 20 Madhya          | Pradesh 22,409              | 22,469   | 23,661   |          | 24,619   |
| 21                 | Maharashtra                 | 93       | 51,079   | 52,532   | 52,532   |
| 22 Manipur         |                             |          |          |          |          |
| 23 Meghalaya       |                             |          | 10       | 10       |          |
| 24 Mizoram         |                             |          |          |          |          |
| 25 Nagaland        |                             |          |          |          |          |
| 26 Odisha          | 32                          | 13,306   | 12,577   | 12,577   |          |
| 27 Puducherry Cash | (on DBT Transfers w.e.f DBT |          |          |          |          |
| 28 Punjab          |                             |          | 16,000   |          | 17,525   |
| 29 Rajasthan       | 25,721                      | 25,793   |          | 25,579   | 26,063   |
| 30                 | Sikkim                      | 20 44    |          | 1,325    | 1,352    |
| 31 Tamil Nadu      | 34,769                      | 34,773   |          | 34,776   | 34,776   |
| 32 Telangana       | 1,622                       |          | 11,339   | 17,170   | 17,170   |
| 33 Tripura         |                             | 25       | 25       | 1,806    | 1,806    |
| 34 Uttar           | Pradesh                     | 750      | 13,186   | 37,202   | 80,493   |
| 35                 | Uttarakhand                 | 8        | 8        | 2,213    | 3,271    |
| 36                 | West Bengal                 |          |          | 366      | 366      |
| Total              | Total                       | 1,77,391 | 2,84,107 | 3,62,171 | 4,12,050 |

*****