Lok Sabha Question No. 303 (STARRED), answered on 2019-12-10
Subject: Targeted  Public  Distribution System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dulal Chandra Goswami

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MtNtsTRy oF coNsuMER AFFA|RS, FOOD & PUBLIC D|STRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIG DTSTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION NO. 3O3 TO BE ANSWERED  ON tOrH DECEMBER,  2O{9

## TARGETED PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  SYSTEM

## t*3o3.  sHRr DULAL CHAND GOSWAMT:

Will the Minister of GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLTC DISTRIBUTIOI{ 5q$f{Ar arr&, ur<-a  gh  Trffif,fi frf,{sr d* be pteased  to state:

- (a)  whether under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the identification  process of  poor beneficiaries  had certain flaws and irregularities  which have been corrected now;
- (b) if so, the details thereofl
- (c) whether under TPDS, foodgrains are now being distributed without any flaws or irregularities to all poor beneficiaries or newly identified  poor families; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

At{SWER MtNtsrER  oF coitsuMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIG DISTRIBUTIOII (sHRl RAMVILAS  PASWAN)

- (a) to (d): A statement  is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF THE STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *303  DUE FOR ANSWER ON 10.12.2019 IN THE LOK SABHA REGARDING

(a) to (d): The process  of identification  of eligible beneficiaries  under National  Food Security Act (NFSA), 201 3  was carried out by StatesruTs  on the basis of criteria determined  by erstwhile Planning  Commission (Now NITI Ayog). Accordingly,  the responsibility  of identification  of eligible beneliciaries  under NFSA lies with State/UT Governments.  As per section 12 of NFSA 2013, for reforms in Targeted Public Distribution  System, the Central and State  Govemment  shall endeavour to progressively undertake  necessary reforms in the Targeted Public Distribution System in consonance with the role envisaged for them. The reforms shall, inter alia include application of information  and communication  technology  tools including end-to-end computerization in order to ensure transparent recording of transactions  at all levels, and to prevent diversion including leveraging aadhaar  for unique  identification, with biometric infbrmation of entitled beneficiaries  for proper targeting  of benefits  of PDS to eligible beneficiaries.

Upon implementation  of the End-to-End computerisation  scheme, for PDS reforms, identification ofbeneficiaries in Fair Price  shops (FPSs) is done primarily  on the basis of Aadhaar authentication  of the beneficiaries  through  electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) mechanism. So far nearly 4.58 lakh FPSs, out of a total of about 5.35 lakh FPSs in the country  have been automated with ePoS devices  with Aadhaar authentication tacility. About  86% (about 20 crore)  ration card & about 81.5% (about 65 crore) of beneficiaries  have been seeded with Aadhaar  numbers at the national level. Aadhaar authentication of eligible beneficiaries ensures rightful  targeting of PDS benefits.

However. this Department  has reiterated time and again to all StatefuT Govemments to ensure that no instance of denial of foodgrains  or deletion of names of family from the Ration  Card database  only on the ground of non possession of Aadhaar takes place. Furthermore,  in order to ensure delivery of PDS benefits  to genuine beneficiaries  in the event of failure of Aadhaar  authentication certain altematives modes/documents have been prescribed  for providing their identity at the Fair Price Shops.