Lok Sabha Question No. 2528 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-16
Subject: Eradication of Hunger
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MtNtsTRy  oF coNsuMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &  puBt.tc  DtsTRtBUTtON

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLTC DISTRTBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2528 TO BE ANSWERED  ON {61r MARGH,2022

## ERADICATION  OF HUI{GER

2528. DR. (PROF.) KIRTT PREIUJIBHAI SOLANKT:

Will the Minister of  GONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD AND  pUBLtC DrsrRrBUTrON  tsrlq}ffit crsa, €rq  siri  sdqF{6 fudwr  d* be preased ro state:

- (a)  the number  of peopre in the country  who stitt face insecurity for food;
- (b)  the efforts taken by the Government to ensure eradication of hunger and starvation in the country  especialy in Guiarat arong with the progress made so far by these measures;
- (c)  the impact of the Nationat  Food security Act in eradicating hunger and statwation, parttcutarly  in Gularat;
- (d)  the number  of beneficiaries  in Gularat who have been getting the benefits  of Antyodaya Anna  yojana  (AAy) and  priority  Househords (pHH); and
- (e)  whether  the Governnrent  intends to survey and maintain  the number of citizens, state-wise who have died of hunger or stawation and if so, the time by which it is lakety to be done?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPilTENT  AND CONSUilIER AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  puBLtc  DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI  NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a) & (b): The Government of lndia accords high priority  to the issue of hunger and provides foodgrains at highly subsidized prices to the targeted population through state Govemments/Union  Territory Administrations under ational Food security Act (]{FSA}, 2o{3 and other wetfare schemes (ows). NFSA provides  for coverage  of upto Tsyo oi the rurar popuration  and upto 5oo/o of the urban population  for receiving foodgrains  under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)  @  Rs  ltzlg  per  kg for

coarsegraans/wheat/rice  respectively. The states/UTs  are responsible  for identification of beneficiaries  under the Act which is under two categorieshouseholds  covered under Antyodaya Anna  yojana  (AAy1 "no priority Households  (PHH). Priority Househotds  are entifled to receive 5 Kg per person per month and AAY households are entifled to receive 35 Kg of foodgrains  per household per month. NFSA has been implemented in all the states/urs (including Gujarat)  and currentty covers about 79.71 crore persons for receiving highly subsidized foodgrains. The coverage under the Act is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its  benefit. The scheme of  End to-End Gomputerization  of  the  PDs has ensured rightful targetang of  the beneficiaries  all  over the country. Government  of  lndia has issued advisories from time to timg to all states/urs  to review their lists of beneficiaries,  launch special  drives to identify and cover the weakest sections of the society  under TPDS and issue ration cards to them.

- (c): To monitor the imptementation  of Nationar Food security Act (NFSA) 2013 and to evaluate its impact among targeted beneficiaries,  Government of lndia has engaged reputed institutes as Monitoring tnstitutions  (Mts) for concurrent evatuation  of i{FSA in States/UTs, including Gujarat.

The findings of the reports :ndicate  that beneficiaries  continue  to receive their monthly entitlements in right quantity and at right price. The evaluation  reports appreciated the various reforms undertaken  by the Government of lndia to improve the public distribution system. Government of India regularly shares the concurrent  evaluation  repott with States/UTs for necessary action as suggested by the monitoring instatutions.

- (d): At present,  the Gentral Government allocates foodgrains  to State Government of Gufarat, for 345.15 lakh beneficiaries  identified by the state Government. The number of AAY Beneficiaries is 36.{g lakh and number of PHH beneficiaries is 3O8.96 lakh.
- (e): No state Governmenu Union Territory Administration  have reported any incident of death due to starvation  in the country so far.

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