Lok Sabha Question No. 406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: Distribution of Sub-standard Foodgrains under PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## mtNtsTRy oF coNsuMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  pUBLtC  DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED qUESTION  ilO.4O6

## TO BE ANSWERED  ON l5rh SEPTEMBER, 2O2O

## DISTRIBUTION OF SUB.STANDARD FOODGRAINS UNDER PDS t406.  sHRt RAVI KTSHAN:

Will the Minister of  GONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  pUBLtC DISTRIBUTIoN  5rrsft{dr  err&, urc.a sit{  gr&f,ftfi  fufiur d*  be pteased  to state:

- (a) whether complaints have been received regarding the distribution  of
- sub-standard foodgrains under Public Distribution System (PDS);
- (b)  if so, the details thereof along with the corrective  steps taken in this regard during the last three yeats, State-wisel
- (c)  the criteria laid down for quality for various food grains under PDS, food
- grain.wise;
- (d) whether the Government monators the qualityr of foodgrains being distributed through PDS;
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the mechanism put in place in this regard and if not, the reasons therefo4 and
- (f) whether there is any grievance redressal system regarding  the quality of iood gralns being supplied to the beneficiaries under PDS and if so, the details thereof?

## AItISWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &

PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION (SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

(a) to (f):  Public Distribution System (PDS) is operated under the ioint responsibilities of the Gentral and State/UT Governments.  The Gentra! Government through Food Gorporation of India (FGl) is responsible ior procurement,  storage and allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs and for transportation of foodgrains upto the designated  depots of the FC! in the States/UTs,  whereas, the operational responsibilities for allocation within the State/UT, transpottation  up to Fair Price Shops (FPSs)r identification  of eligible beneficiaries/  households,  issuance of  ration cards to  themt distribution of foodgrains through FPSs, supervision & monatoring of FPS

operations, etc. rest with the respective State/UT Government.  Furtherr this

.2t-

Department has issued clear instructaons  to the Fct and all states/UTs  to ensure that good quality  foodgrains  are supptied under  pDS.  Therefore, as and when, any complaints including  distribution  of sub-standard  foodgrains under PDS from various sources are received  in this Department, they are sent to the concerned State/UT Government for inquiry and appropriate action. A statement indicating state-wise number of complaints (various types) on TPDS received in the Department  during the last three yearc 2Ol7 to 2Ol9 is at Annexure.

It is further stated that there is a set procedure/mechanism  in ptace for the issuance of foodgrainsunder Public Distribution System (pDS). Surprise  checks are also conducted at Foodgrain  Storage Depots and Fair Price Shops to ensure the quality of foodgrains being supplied under  pDS. The Depailment  has issued following anstructions to all States/UTs and FGt to ensure  the supply of good quality foodgrains  under PDS:

- i) Only good quality  foodgrains  free from insect anfestation and conforming to Food Safety Standards are to be issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes.
2. ii) Ample opportunities are to be provided  to the State GovernmenUUTs Administration  to inspect the stocks prior to lifting from FGI godowns. State/UTs may ensure that officers not below the rank of lnspector  are deputed for inspection of the foodgrains before their lifting from FG! godowns.
3. iii) Samples of foodgrains are to be collected  and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to be issued under the TPDS  iointly by FG! and State GovernmenUUT Administration.
4. iv) An officer not below the rank of lnspector is to be deputed from State
5. Government to take the delivery of foodgrains  stocks from FCI godowns.
- v) Regular inspection to check the quality  of foodgrains is to be carried out by the officers  of State Government.
7. vl) lt  is  the responsibility  of  the concerned State Govemment/UT Administration to ensure that during transportation and storage at different stages in the distribution chain, the foodgrains  retain the required quality  specifications.
8. vii) The State Government,  where the decentratized  procurement  is in
9. operation, should ensure that the quality  of foodgrains issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes should meet the desired standards under the Food Safety and Standards Authority  of lndia (FSSAI).

Besides above, the anstitutaonal mechanism for the monitoring and grievance redressal  under National Food Security Act, 2O{3 (NFSA) provades  for setting up of Vigilance Gommittees  at various levels, District Grievance  Redressal Officers and independent State Food Gommission for making the Public Distribution  System more eflicient and transparent.

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO lN REPLY TO PARTS (a) ro (f) OF THE UNSTARRED  QIJISTIOT{ NO,4O6 FOR ANSWER ON I5.O9.2O2O IN THE LOK SABHA.

## STATEMENT:  COMPLAINTS ON TPDS RECEIVED tN THE DEPARTMENT FROM INDtVtDUALS, ORGANTSATTONS  & THROUGH MEDTA REPORTS ETC FROM 2tJ17 TO 2lJ19

| S. No.            | State/UT          | 2017   | 201,}   | 2019   |
|-------------------|-------------------|--------|---------|--------|
| 1                 | Andhra Pradesh    | 10     | 6       | 6      |
| 2                 | Arunachal Pradesh |        | 1       | 1      |
| 3                 | Assam             | 17     | 7       | 8      |
| 4                 | Bihar             | 169    | ,t3s    | tt9    |
| 5                 | Ghhattisgarh      | 9      | 9       | 7      |
| 6                 | Delhi             | 98     | 76      | 8l     |
| Goa 7             |                   | 2      |         | 1      |
| 8                 | Gujarat           | 9      | 8       | I      |
| 9 Haryana         |                   | 47     | 35      | 39     |
| l0 Himachal       |                   | 6      | 1       | 1      |
| 11                | Pradesh           | 4      | 5       | 3      |
| 12 J              | J&K harkharnd     | 35     | 33      | 17     |
| {3                | Karnataka         | 2A     | 'ts     | 1A     |
| 14 Kerala         |                   | t3     | 1t      | 11     |
| l5 Madhya Pradesh |                   | 21     | 24      | 26     |
| l6                | Maharashtra       | 77     | 34      | 24     |
| 17                | Mani pul          | 2      | 2       |        |
| {8                | Meghalerya        |        |         | 1      |
| t9                | Mizoranr          | 2      |         |        |
| 20                | Nagaland          | 2      |         | 1      |
| 21                | Orissa            | 22     | 16      | {6     |
| 22                | Puniab            | 5      | 22      | 14     |
| 23                | Rajasth:rn        | a2     | 38      | 24     |
| 24                | Sikkim            |        |         |        |
| 25                | Tamil N:rdu       | 3l     | 27      | {6     |
| 26                | Telangana         | 4      | 3       | 3      |
| 27                | Tripura           | 1      |         |        |
| 2A                | Uttarakhand       | 22     | 15      | 14     |
| 29 Uttar Pradesh  | 445               |        | 369     | 343    |
| 30                | West Bengal       | 49     | 43      | 5l     |
| 3{                | A&N Island        |        | 1       |        |
| 32                | Chandigarh        |        | 2       |        |
| 33                | D& N Haveli       |        |         |        |
| 34                | Daman €i. Diu     |        |         |        |
| 35                | Lakshadweep       |        | 1       |        |
| 36                | Puducherry        | 1      | 2       | 1      |
| .I'OTAL           | .I'OTAL           | 1213   | 941     | 855    |