Lok Sabha Question No. 476 (STARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Leakages and Corruption in PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Khagen Murmu, Mahabali Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LoK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.476 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5TH APRIL, 2023

## LEAKAGES AND CORRUPTION IN PDS

- *476. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU: SHRI MAHABALI SINGH:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

- (a) whether the Government has been able to mitigate the leakages and corruption in the Public Distribution System (PDS);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of measures initiated by the Government for mitigating leakages and corruption in PDS over the past two years 2020-22;
- (d) whether the biometric identification for the distribution of ration has been able to prevent the influence of middlemen and corrupt officials; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSW E R

MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND TEXTILES (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO.476 FOR ANSWER ON 05.04.2023 IN THE LOK SABHA:

(a), (b) & (c): To bring reforms in the functioning of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and to minimize the leakages and diversion of the subsidized foodgrains, this Department, in association with all StateslUTs had implemented a scheme on 'End to End Computerization of TPDS Operations' which inter-alia comprised digitization of ration cardsl beneficiaries' data and installation of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices at all Fair Price Shops (FPSs) for transparent distribution of foodgrains to all beneficiaries under National Food Security Due to this, 100% ration cards have been digitized Aadhaar seeding is completed with ration card and almost all the FPSs (more than 99%) in the country have been automated by installing electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) for transparent distribution of foodgrains to the beneficiaries and to prevent the leakage of subsidized foodgrains:

One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC); a fully technology driven system, is the main component of the Central Sector Scheme Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) fully funded by Government of India was approved for implementation in all Under ONORC all NFSA beneficiaries, particularly migrant beneficiaries can lift, their entitled foodgrains from any (ePoS) enabled Fair Price Shop (FPS) of choice anywhere in the country using their same existing ration card with biometric authentication. ONORC facility has been implemented in all

In addition to this, for proper monitoring and maintaining transparency in PDS operations in all StateslUTs, this Department has developed a national PDS in the country:

Helpline number 1967/1800-State series number is operational in all the States/UTs for contacting and redressal of grievances and filing any type of complaints including corruption cases in TPDS

As and when complaints   including   corruption are received in this Department from any source, are sent to the concerned StatelUt Government for inquiry and appropriate action: they

(d) & (e): Due to Aadhaar seeding and installation of ePos devices at the FPSs, currently, around 94% of total distribution in the country is done through ePoS devices, in a transparent manner, On a monthly basisBiometric identification ensures distribution of NFSA foodgrains to genuine beneficiaries: AII StateslUTs have also been advised that no genuine beneficiarylhousehold shall be denied from receiving entitled quota of subsidized foodgrains only for want of Aadhaar or due to failure of biometriclAadhaar authentication due to networklconnectivityllinking related issues, other technical reasons or poor biometrics of the beneficiary: