Lok Sabha Question No. 3344 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Modernisation of PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA

## MINTSTRY OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtC  D|STRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTTON

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO33/T4 TO BE ANSWERED  ON 23RD MARCH, 2022

## MODERNISATION OF PDS

## i3344.  SHR! PARBATBHAT  SAVABHAT  pATEL: SHRI NARANBI{AI  KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  scli-srqrr+,  eruettvrffi+G-d<ur{'*  be pteased  to state:

- (a) whether the Public Distribution System (PDS)  is being modernized
- and simplified with the passage  of time;
- (b)  if so, the measures taken/being taken to provide continuous  and better benefits of the said scheme to the people of rural areas of Gularat;
- (c)  whether the Government has laid down any rule which states that the ration shops under PDS shall undertake  the distribution  within the territory of the same Gram Panchayat that it comes under; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

IIIINISTER  OF STATE  FOR TIIINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPiIENT AND coNsulltER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD & PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

(sADHVl I{|RANJAN  JYOT!)

(a) & (b): Yes Sir. Under the Publlc Dlstributlon System  (PDS) reforms, the Department, ln collaboration wlth all State Goyemments and Union Territorles, has made unyielding efforts in the past 7-8 years to modernize and lntroduce transparency  and efliciency in the functioning of the Tatgeted Public Dlstribution System (TPDS) ln all States/UTs. Through these efforts' all ration cards/beneficiaries data Is completely digitized in all States/UTsr  online allocation of foodgralns  up to all Falr Prlce Shops (FPSs)  in all States/UTs, transparency  portals  with onllne gdevance  redressal facllities and toll-free helpllnes are implemented  in all States/UTs. Supply Chaln Management of foodgralns ls also computerlzed ln 3{ States/UTs  lncludlng Gufarat. Besldest etectronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices  ar€ also lnstalled  ln about 5.28 Lakh of total 5.33 Lakh (98.9%) FPSs ln the country. Further, technology  driven  (lne Natlon One Ration Card (ONORC) plan 13 atso enabled in 35 States/UTs so far, including Gularat. At! these PDS reforms have enabled continuous  and better detivery of the Natlonal Food Security Act (ilFSA) foodgrains to  the beneficiaries across the country, Includlng those ln the rural areas of Gujarat.

(c) & (d): Under NFSA, inter-alla atl operational aspects of the TPDS, including  the licensing, regulation  and monitoring  of the Fair Price Shops operations/functioning,  issuance  of  ration cards to  beneficiaries and distribution of  subsidised foodgrains to  them through FPSs are the responsibilities  of  the  respective State/UT Governments.  As  an institutionalized practice  under TPDS, the ration cards issued by the States/UTs are tagged to a nearby FPS in the region/area,  which may also include an area covered by a Gram Panchayat, to facilitate the availability and distribution of subsidised foodgrains to beneficiaries in their vicinity. However,  with the implementation of technology driven One Nation One Ration Gard (ONORG) plan, the NFSA beneficiaries are empowered to lift their  quota of foodgrains  from any Fair Price Shop (FPS)  of choice anyrwhere in the country, effectively enabling the FPSs also to distribute foodgrains  to any NFSA beneficiary of  the country, and not  iust  limited to  the beneficiaries in their same region/area or Gram Panchayat.

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