Lok Sabha Question No. 326 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-05
Subject: Distribution of Poor Quality Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE, ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 326 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 FEBRUARY, 2019

## DISTRIBUTION OF POOR QUALITY FOODGRAINS

326. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE: SHRI ARVIND SAWANT:

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 several complaints are being constantly received regarding distribution of rotten and poor quality foodgrains to the people living Below Poverty Line under various foodgrains related welfare schemes; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon during the last three years and the current year, State-wise?

## A N S W E R

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

- (a): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/UT Governments. Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The operational responsibilities for intra-state allocation and distribution of foodgrains  within  the  States/UTs,  identification  of  eligible  beneficiaries, issuance  of  ration  cards  to  them  and  supervision  over  and  monitoring  of functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with the concerned State/UT Governments.
- (b): Details are enclosed at Annexure.

****

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  THE  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 326 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 5 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019 IN THE LOK SABHA

STATE-WISE DETAILS OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY STORAGE AND RESEARCH DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION,  ABOUT  SUPPLY  OF  ROTTEN  AND  POOR  QUALITY  FOODGRAINS  UNDER  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  SYSTEM  (PDS)  AND  OTHER  WELFARE  SCHEMES  (OWS)  DURING  LAST  THREE  YEARS  AND  CURRENT YEAR, AND ACTION TAKEN THEREON.

| Year    | State                                          | Complaint                                                                                                                                                                     | Action Taken by the Government                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2018-19 | No complaint received during the current year. | No complaint received during the current year.                                                                                                                                | No complaint received during the current year.                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 2017-18 | West Bengal                                    | Complaint was received from Sh. Sunil Khan, Srikrishnapur, Bishnupur village, West Bengal regarding supply of poor quality foodgrains under PDS in West Bengal.               | The complaint was forwarded to Principal Secretary, Food Department, Government of West Bengal for investigation.                                                                                                                          |
|         | Telangana                                      | Complaint made by Sh. P Mastan Rao R/o of Hyderabad regarding poor quality of wheat issued through PDS in Hyderabad.                                                          | The complaint was got investigated by Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation and was not found to be true.                                                                                                                             |
|         | Maharashtra                                    | Public Grievance received from Sh. Paulson Dsouza, R/o Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra regarding supply of bad quality of wheat and rice in ration shops in Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra.  | The applicant was informed that, in order to regularize the functioning of PDS, instructions were issued by the Dept of Food and PD to the concerned State Govt. for issuing quality foodgrains through PDS which conforms to FSSAI norms. |
| 2016-17 | Maharashtra                                    | Complaint from S.K. Shrivastava, India RTI News dated 30.08.2016 regarding supply of poor quality of Rice and Wheat to BPL quota under Dombivali Region (Thane), Maharashtra. | FCI investigated the complaint and the same was not found to be true.                                                                                                                                                                      |

| Kerala         | News report published in 'MINT Delhi'' on 23.09.2016 regarding 8 tonnes of wheat meant for PDS infested with worms supplied to tribal children in Attapady, Palakkad.                                                                                                    | The stocks in question was issued after conducting joint inspection with the representative of WBNPD Scheme, who have confirmed that the stocks were pest free. Complaint found baseless.                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| UP             | Complaint dated 12.08.2016 & 15.09.2016 received from Sh. Atul Gupta, S/O Sh. Rammurti Gupta, Dist. Bahraich(UP) regarding storage of damaged rice stock in the godowns of district Bahraich (UP) due to negligence of offcers& dispatch of poor quality rice under PDS. | Complaint was investigated jointly by officers of FCI and state Govt. and stock was found within specifications.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Sikkim         | Complaint received from Joint Secretary, Govt of Sikkim, Food &Civil Supplies &Consumer Affairs Department, Secretariat, regarding Poor Quality of Rice supplied from FCI Jorethang.                                                                                     | The complaint was investigated by FCI by deputing two officers from District office Siliguri and Gangtok and it was found that only pest free and FAQ stock have been issued with full satisfaction of Inspector Incharge Govt of Sikkim in terms of quality and quantity. The Government of Sikkim was informed accordingly.                                                        |
| Madhya Pradesh | A complaint made by Sh. Kishore Samrete, District Balghat (MP) regarding issue of poor quality rice under TPDS at Balghat, Katni, Seoni, Jabalpur and Mandla Districts of MP.                                                                                            | The complaint was investigated by deputing an officer from Quality Control Cell, Bhopal. Two stacks of wheat and four stacks of rice were found beyond the FSSAI limits. The Government of Madhya Pradesh was informed accordingly with request to take appropriate action and issue good quality foodgrains under Public Distribution System (PDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS). |

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| 2015-16   | NCT, Delhi      | A complaint was received from Indraprastha Welfare Association, New Delhi regarding Supply of poor quality of foodgrain in Moti Nagar, Area of Delhi A Complaint received from Secretary, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, Govt. of Maharashtra - regarding supply of luster loss wheat from FCI base depot, Jalgoan and MSWC, Nanded A Complaint was received   | The complaint was got investigated by deputing an officer of the Ministry. The complaint was not found to be true. Instructions were issued to all State Governments to accept the luster loss wheat procured during RMS 2015-16 under the relaxed specifications as luster lost wheat is as nutritious as sound wheat only shining is less and the quality of wheat is intact and good. -do-   |
|-----------|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           | Maharashtra     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|           | Jammu & Kashmir | from Director of Consumer affair &P.D., Kashmir- regarding Supply of below standard quality wheat under Wheat Relaxation Scheme.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |