Lok Sabha Question No. 128 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-02
Subject: Leakage in Public Distribution Scheme
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF TNDIA MlNlsrRY oF GoI{suMER aFFAlRs, FooD a  puBltc  DrsrRrBuTroil DEPARTMEiIT OF FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTIOT{

## LOK SABHA UISTARRED  OUESTIOI{ iIO'{28 TO BE ANSWERED  OIt zND FEBRUARY:2D2?

## LEAKAGE  IT{ PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIOT{ SCHEME

## I28. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

TIgiIt  the Minister  of  qoNsUMER  AFFAiRS,  FooD AND PUBLIG DrsrRrBUTrOil 3'nrl+ar enr*, vr<-r ct{ 8rffif,6, fuCrur  *+ be preased  to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Govemment to minimaze leakage in  pubtic Distribution $cheme (pDS) for Antyodaya, Betow  poverty  Lrne (BpL) and Above Poverty Lime (ApL) ration card hotders;
- (b)
- whether there aie any change in the distribution  of  pDs  ration after the antroduction  of Aadhaar linking and Biometric authentacation;  and
- (c) if so, the detaits thereof?

ANSTYER

]UIIIIISTER OF STATE FOR MIilISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AIID coNsumER AFFA|RS,  FOOD &  puBl.tc  DtsTRtBUTtOl{ (sADHVt  NTRANJAN  JYOTT)

- (a): Under the Nationar Food security Act, 2o{3 (NFSA), this Department provides  foodgrains  to states/urs  for distribution through the Targeted Public Distribution  system (TpDs)  to the beneficiaries/househords  covered under the two categories  of NF$A, namely Antyodaya Anna  yoiana  (AAy) and Priority Households (pHH).

To minimize the reakages  and diversion  of tire subsidized foodgrains, this Depaftment,  in association with all states/urs, imprementJd  the scheme of  'End  to End computerization  of rpDs operatioisr  which interalia comprised  digitization of ration cards/ beneficiariesr data, insta[ation of electronic  Point of sate (epos)  devices at at! Fair  price  shops (Fpss), etc. for transparent distribution of foodgrains  to atl beneficiaries  under

1{FSA.

(b) & (c):  Under ilFSA, this  Department  altocates  foodgrains to states/urs for dlistribution  to around  go  crore ltFsA beneficiaries in the country on a  monthly basis. Further, due to  Aadhaar seeding and installation of eltos devices at the Fpss, at present,  around 9oo/o of totat ePos transactions  an the country are done in a transparent  manner  through biometric  autherntication  on a monthly basis.. All states/urs have been advised  vide letter dated Z4llOt2OlZ  that no genuine beneficiary/househotd  shalt be denied from receiving entifled quota of subsidized foodgrains only for want of Aadhaar  or due to failure of biometric/Aadhaar  authentication  due to  networldconnectivity/linking related issuesr other technicat reasons  or  poor biometrics  of  the beneficiary, As per provisions  of this Depattmentrs  Aadhaar Notification dated 8 Februan/  2017, rar the Aadhaar is assigned to the beneficiaries, either of the eight identification  documents  shal! be used for identification purpose  i.e. (Voter lD Card,  pAl{  Gard,  passport,  Driving License, Gertificate of ldentity with photo issued by Gazetted officer/rehsildar on official letter head, Address card having Name and  photo  issued by Department  of Posts, Kisan  photo passbook  and any other document as specified  by state/UT Governments). AIso, the timerine given  to all states/urs for linking.of Aadhaar numbers  of beneficiaries  with their ration cards has been e:xtended up to  gl  t0gl2022.

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