Lok Sabha Question No. 1710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Exclusion of Beneficiaries
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: L.S. Tejasvi Surya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## Mll{tsTRY  OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtC  DISTRTBUTION DEPARTII'IENT  OF FOOD Al{D PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED OUESTION NO.{7{O TO BE AI{SWERED ON 8TH DECEMBER,20,21

## EXCLUSION OF BENEFICIARIES

## {7,I0. SHRI L.S. ]'EJASVI SURYA:

Will the Minister of GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  pUBLtC DISTRIBUTIoN  scsI€r  rrr&, urqiu sit{  grddfr{,  fifr{or  d* be pteased to state:

- (a)  the measures  taken to improve the targeting mechanism of Public
- Distribution System in all States and UTs to prevent  the exclusion of beneficiaries and inclusion of ineligible citizens;
- (b)  the steps taken to increase  the graan storage capacity at the district
- level and measures taken to prevent incidents of rotting;
- the details of the total subsidised food grains provided  State and UT-
- (c) wise and the people benefitted therefrom; and
- (d)  whether the Government  has taken initiative to digitise the process of the distributionr of food grains via Aadhar and if so, the details thereo?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMEI{T AND GONSUMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  pUBLtC  DISTRIBUT|ON (SADHV! NIRANJAil JYOTI)

(a): Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA),  inter-alia the responsibilities of identification of eligible households/ beneficiaries  under the Act, issuance of ration cards to them, regular revlew of the list of ration card holders/ beneticlaries,  etc. rests with the respectlve State/UT Governments. However, under the Targeted  Public Distribution System (TPDS)  reforms,  to bring transparency and amprovement  in targeting of eligible households/benericiaries under the Act, the Department in association with all States/UTs  has achieved {OO% digitization  of all ration cards/ beneficiaries' data in the country. Morc than 937o ration cards are also Aadhaar seeded  at the national level and the digitized list of all beneficiaries  is available in public domain on the transparency portals of lhe respective  States/UTs.  Besides, the NFSA also provides a mechanism  of social audits of the TPDS operations  including  the inclusion and exclusion of beneficiaries.

- (b): Food Gorpoation  of lndia (FGl) continuously  asseases and monitors the storage capacity in the country and based on the requirement  and storage gap assessment, storage capacities are created/hired under following schemes r
- a) Private Entrepreneurc  Guarantee (PEG) scheme.
- b) Gentral Sector Scheme (CSS).
- c) Gonstruction  of SILO's
- d) Hiring of godown from GWGs/SlYGs
- e) Private Warehousing Scheme  (PIYS)

Fuiher, the steps taken by the Government  for safe storage of foodgrains  to reduce the damage are stated in Annexure-!.

- (c): The NFSA provides for a maximum coverage of about 8{.35 Grore beneficiaries in the country for receiving  the benefit of subsidised foodgrains  through TPDS. Accordingly, during the year 2O2O-21, lhe Department  had allocated about 521.26 LMT foodgrainc  under regular NFSA to the States/UTs for distribution to about 8O.95 Grore beneficiaries actually covered by them under NFSA as in April 2O2O. A statement showing State/UT wise total allocation of foodgrains  during 2O2O-21  and coyerage of beneficiaries  in April 2O2O is at Annexure-ll.
- (d): Under TPDS reforms, for transparent distribution  of subsidised foodgrains  to eligible NFSA beneficlaries through digital transactions,  the electronic Polnt of Sale (ePoS) devlces are also installed In more than 93.5% of total 5.33 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs)  in the country so far. Presently,  on an average of 8O% to E5% of monthly ePoS transactions in the country happen with biometric authentication of beneficiaries  to ensure the delivery of subsidised foodgrains  to their rightful beneficiaries.

ttt*

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO tN REpLy TO PART (b) OF THE UNSTARRED OUESTTN NO.17iO FOR ANSWER ONO8.12.2O21II{ THE LOK SABHA.

## Steps Taken by the Government  for Safe Storage of Foodgrains to Reduce Damage.

- (i) All godowns  are constructed  as per specifications.
- (iD Foodgrains are stored by adopting  proper  scientific code of storage  practices.
- (iii) Adequate dunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats,  polythene sheets are used to check migration of moisture from the floor to the foodgrains.
- Fumigation  covers, nylon ropes,  nets and insecticides  for control of stored  grain insect  pests are provided  in all the godowns. (iv)
- Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation) are canied out regularly and tinrely in godowns  for the control of stored grain insect pests. (v)
- Effective rat control  measures,  both in covered godowns  as well as in CAP storage are used. (vi)
- Foodgrains  in 'Cover and Plinth' (CAP) storage  are stored on elevated plinths and wooden crates are used as dunnage  material.  Stacks are properly  covered  with specifically  fabricated low-density  black  polythene  water -proof covers and tied with nylon ropes/nets. (vii)
- Regular  periodic inspections  of the stocks/godowns  are undertaken by qualified and trained staff and all senior  officers.  The health of the foodgrains  is monitored  at regular  intervals  by a system of checks and super checks at different levels. Following  Checks and Super checks are conducted in the godowns  by FCI to ensure  proper  preservation  of foodgrains in the storage. (viii)
- a) Fortnightly  inspection  of slocks  on 100% basis by Technical  Assistant.
- b) Monthly inspection  by Manage(QC)
- c) Quaterly  inspection  by AGM(aC)
- d) Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs Squads.
- The principle of "First in First Out" (FIFO) is followed  to the extent  possible so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains  in godowns. (ix)
- Only covered  rail wagons  are used for movement  of foodgrains  so as to avoid damage during transit. (x)
- Damage Monitoring  Cells have been set up at District,  Regional  and Zonal  levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages. (xi)
- ldentifo & repair all the leakage  point in the roof. (xii)
- Cleaning of drainages  in the godown premises  ensured. (xiii)
- Ensure no seepage  inside  the godowns. (xiv)
- No clogging  up c,f water  in the premises. (xv)
- lmmediate action to segregate  & recondition of the stocks whenever  it gets affected. (xvi)

## ANNEXURE REFERRED  TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTIN NO.{7IO FOR ANSWER ONO8.12,2O21 IN THE LOK SABHA.

Statement  showing  State/UT wise total allocation  of foodgrains dwing 2O2O-21  and coverage of beneficiaries in April 2020:

| sl.   | State/UT                  | Total Allocation of Foodgrains in 2020-21 (in Lakh MT)   | NFSA Goverage in April 2020 (in Lakh persons)   |
|-------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 1     | Andaman & Nicobar lslands | 0.04                                                     | 0.61                                            |
| 2     | Andhra Pradesh            | 18.5                                                     | 268.23                                          |
|       | Arunachal Pradesh         | 0.56                                                     | 8.21                                            |
| 4     | Assam                     | 16.25                                                    | 251.53                                          |
| 5     | Bihar                     | 55.24                                                    | 857.07                                          |
| 6     | Chandigarh                | DBT Cash                                                 | 2.79                                            |
| 7     | Chhattisgarh              | 13.84                                                    | 200.77                                          |
| 8     | Dadra & NH and Daman Diu  | 0.16                                                     | 2.91                                            |
| I     | Delhi                     | 4.51                                                     | 72.73                                           |
| 10    | Goa                       | 0.34                                                     | 5.32                                            |
| 11    | Gujarat                   | 21.78                                                    | 382.s4                                          |
| 12    | Haryana                   | 7.95                                                     | '126.49                                         |
| 13    | Himachal Pradesh          | 2.02                                                     | 28.64                                           |
| 14    | Jammu And Kashmir         | 4.68                                                     | 72.05                                           |
| 15    | Jharkhand                 | 17.4                                                     | 263.70                                          |
| 16    | Karnataka                 | 26.09                                                    | 401.93                                          |
| 17    | Kerala                    | 9.96                                                     | 154.80                                          |
| '18   | Ladakh                    | 0.09                                                     | 1.44                                            |
| 19    | Lakshadweep               | 0.02                                                     | 0.22                                            |
| 20    | Madhya Pradesh            | 34.43                                                    | 546.42                                          |
| 21    | Maharashtra               | 46.05                                                    | 700.17                                          |
| 22    | Manipur                   | 1.63                                                     | 24.57                                           |
| 23    | Meghalaya                 | 1.41                                                     | 21.46                                           |
| 24    | Mizoram                   | 0.46                                                     | 6.68                                            |
| 25    | Nagaland                  | 0.92                                                     | 14.05                                           |
| 26    | Odisha                    | 22.25                                                    | 323.60                                          |
| 27    | Puducherry                | DBT Cash                                                 | 6.15                                            |
| 28    | Punjab                    | 8.7                                                      | 141.45                                          |
| 29    | Rajasthan                 | 27.88                                                    | 446.62                                          |
| 30    | Sikkim                    | 0.26                                                     | 3.79                                            |
| 31    | Tamil Nadu                | 25.15                                                    | 357 .34                                         |
| 32    | Telangana                 | 12.96                                                    | 191.62                                          |
| 33    | Tripura                   | 1.64                                                     | 25.02                                           |
| 34    | Uttar Pradesh             | 94.37                                                    | 1,520.59                                        |
| 35    | Uttarakhand               | 4.01                                                     | 61.94                                           |
| 36    | West Bengal               | 39.71                                                    | 60'1.84                                         |
|       | Total                     | 521.26                                                   | 8,095.29                                        |