Lok Sabha Question No. 1629 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Poor Quality food Grains under PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Anumula Revanth Reddy

## M|N|STRY  OF CONSUmER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtC  DTSTRIBUTTON

## GOVERNIUIENT  OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOI( SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION T{O.{ 629

## TO BE ANSWERED  Oil 8TH DECEMBER,  2O2'

## POOR QUALITY FOOD GRAINS UNDER PDS

## 1629, SHRI ANUMULA REVANTH REDDYT

Will the Minister of GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIoN :Fnrtfir arr*, ur<-u sit{ Tn{afr{ fnf,{ur t'+ be pteased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken cognizance  of poor quality of food grains being sold through Public Distribution  System  (PDS)  and if so,
- the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government proposes to tEnsfer the subsidy directly in the accounts of the beneficiaries provided under PDS;
- (c) if so, the details  thereof and if not, the reasons thereforl
- (d)  whether any directions have been issued to the States in this regard;  and
- (e) if so, the details thereofil

AI{SWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT  AND COI{SUMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD & PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI  NIRANJAN JYOTI}

- (a): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)  is operated under the ioint  responsibility  of the Gentral and the State/ Union Territory  (UT) Governments. Gentral Government is  responsible  for  procurement, allocation  and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Gorporataon  of lndia  {FGl).  The operational responsibilities for intra-state allocation and distribution of foodgrains within the $tates/UTs, identiflcataon of eligible beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards and supervision and monitoring ot the Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with the concerned State/UT Governments.

Furthermore,  Government  has assued foltowing instructions to State GovernmenUUTs  and FGI to ensure the supply of good quality foodgrains under PDS:

- (0 Only good quality foodgrains free from insect infestation and conforming to Food Safety Standards are to be issued under TpDS and other welfare schemes (OWS).
- (ai) Ample opportunities are to be proyided  to the State GovernmenUUT Administration  to inspect the stocks prior  to lifting from FC! godowns. State/UTs may ensure that officers not below the rank of Inspector are deputed for inspeetion of the foodgrains  before their lifting from FGI godowns.
- (iia) Samples  of foodgrains  ar6 to be collected and seated trom the stocks of foodgrains  to be issued under the TpDS joinfly by FGI and State GovernmenUUT Administration.
- (v) Regular inspection to check the quality of foodgrains is to be carried out by the offlcerc  of State Government.
- (iv) An ofticer not below the rank of Inspector is to be deputed from State Government to take the delivery of foodgrains stocks from FCt godowns.
- (vi) lt  is the responsibility  of the concerned State GovernmenUuT Administration  to ensure that during transportation and storage at different stages in the distribution chain, the foodgrains  retain the required quality specifications.
- (vii) The State Government,  where the decentralized procurement  is in operation, should ensure that the quality of foodgrains issued under TPDS and OW$ should meet the desired standards under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of lndia (FSSAI).
- (b) & (G): Government of lndia has notified  trGash  Transfer  of Food Subsidy Rules, 2O15, on 21.O8.2O15  under the National Food Security  Act, 2O13. These Rules inter alia provides that lood subsidy can be transfered in cash directly lnto the bank accounts of entitled households giving them the flexibility to purchase the entitled quantity  of foodgrains from the open market. The Gash Transfer  Scheme can be taken up in identified areas, subiect to fulfillment of cettain conditions regarding preparedness to implement  the scheme. ldentified  area is defined as State or UT or any speclfled area within the State or UT for which there is a written consent of the State Government for implementation of the Scheme. Thus, the scheme is optional for the States/UTs.
- (d) & (e): Gash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules, 2O{5 was shared with att the States/UTs and is available  in public domain. The scheme is optlonal for the States/UT$  and at present, DBT-Cash Transfer Scheme is being implemented In Ghandigarh, Puducherry from September 2Ol5 and in urban areas of Dadra & Nagar Haveli fom March 2O16.

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