Lok Sabha Question No. 2333 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Ration Card under PMGKAY
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan, Vincent H Pala, A. Chellakumar, M. Selvaraj, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Kani K. Navas, Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Mll{lsTRy oF coNsuMER AFFA|RS,  FOOD &  pUBLtc  DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIOI{

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2333 TO BE ANSWERED  ON 3trD AUGUST, 2O2l

## RATION CARD UNDER PMGKAY

2333. SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAT{:

SHRI VINGE}IT H. PALA:

DR. A. GHALLAKUMAR:

SHR! M. SELVARAJ:

SHRI SAPTAGIRI  SANKAR ULAKA:

SHRI X. NAVASKAN!:

SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

UUill  the Minaster of GOISUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  pUBLtC DISTRIBUTIoI| rTtl}rar ara*, urf-a elt{ {rdufr6. Bfr,sr **  be pteased  to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is aware of the number of vulnerable populace excluded  from the Public Distribution System, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons theretor;
- (b)  whether the Government  is aware that reliance  ol 2O1i census data to calculate  state-wise PDs coverage as outdated and leads to exctusion of crores of beneficiaries;
- (c) if so, whether the Government is taking steps to update the database to identify beneficiaries; and
- (d)  whether the Government has formulated or has plans  to formulate, specific steps to address the issue concerning the population without ration cards that have been left out in the second round of the  pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGI(AY), if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MII{ISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMERAFFAIRS,  FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTTON (sADHVr NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a): Under l{ationa! Food Security  Act (NFSA), 2Ot3 the Tgrgeted  public Distribution  system (TPD$)  is operated  in joint responsibilifies  of the Gentral and state/ur Governments  wherean inter-alia the operational responsibilities  for identification of eligibte beneficiaries/households  under the Act as per own criteria,  issuance of ration cards and distribution  of foodgrains  to them from Fair  price  shops (Fpss) etc. lies with the respective  state/UT  Government.  ln addition to this, this Department  had issued instructions  to all states/UTs  to cover the weaker and vulnerable sections of the society under NFSA, up to respective NFSA ceilang limit, for tood security  benefits.
- (b): The NFSA at per Gensus  2o{{ provides for a maximum coverage of 8{.35 Grore persons. Presentty, in all states/urs,  a total of about  go  Grore beneficiaries  are receiving the NFSA benefits across the country as per the State/UT.wise prevailing coverage. Fuiher, any change in  the state/ur-wise  coverage limit of beneficiaries depends in the revision of I{FSA provisions.
- (c): The database of alt ration cards under ]IFSA are created and maintained  in the respective  state/UT  ration card management system (RCMS).
- (d): Further, besides the regutar  subsidized  NFSA foodgrains, the benefit of free foodgrains  under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna  yoiana  (pMGKAY) is available  for alt NFSA beneficiaries  in the country at present. ln addition to this, all concerned states/UTs were advised to cover maximum eligible persons  up to the respective NFSA ceil-ng timits to ensure that maximum eligible beneficiaries  get the benefit of both NFSA and  pMGKAy foodgrains, as per the coverage limat mandated under the NFSA..