Lok Sabha Question No. 1192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Ensuring Benefits of Food Security System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTR!BUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. I{92 TO BE ANSWERED  ON 9th February,2O2{

## ENSI'RING BENEFITS OF FOOD SECURITY SYSTEM

## 1192. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN

Will the Minister of  GONSUMER AFFAIRS' FOOD Al{D PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION  5rra{lm'l arri, uro :il-t srffio Fa-6qur d* be pleased to state:

- (a)  the steps taken/being taken by the Government  to meet the urgent need to ensure more wholesomerations, assure farmers a uniform income and integrate the food processing industry to fortif3r the nutritional, social and economic benefits of the food security system;
- (b)  whether the Government has integrated existing food programmes such as the Pubtic Distribution System (PDS), Mid-Day Meal Scheme and
- lntegrated Child Oevelopment Programmes  into legal entitlementl and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for not initiating innovative steps to make the entitlement whotesome and for bringing  qualitative upgradation  in scales of entitlement  in terms of the variety of food items to be authorized?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF GONSUMER AFFAIRS' FOOD & PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB  DADARAO)

- (a): tn addition  to  the entitlement under National Food Security AcI(NFSA) to 8l .35 crore persons to avai! foodgrains at highly subsidized rates, Government  of tndia (Gol) under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yoiana (PMGKAY), atlocated food-grains @ 5 kS per person per month free of cost for all the beneficiaries  covered under Targeted Public Distribution  system  (Antyodaya  Anna Yoiana & Priority Households) for a period of 3 months i.e. April.June, 2O2O. It was extended for a further period of 5 months i.e' up to November, 2O2O. Further, under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package (ANBP),  this Department  made allocation of about total I  LMT of foodgrains to all the states/UTs for migrants/stranded migrants, who are neither covered under National Food security Act (I{FSA)  nor state own Scheme under TPDS, @ 5 rg per person per month free of cost for a.period  of two months (May & June, 2O2O)'

To address anemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country, Government of  lndia approved Gentrally  Sponsored Pilot Scheme on "Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)" l'or a period of 3 years beginning in 2O{9-2O with total outlay of Rs 174.64 Gr,,. The Pilot Scheme is intended to focus on '15 Districts across {5 states,, preferably  I  District per State. The scheme as funded by the Government  of lndia in the ratio of 9O:1O in respect of North-Eastern, Hilly and lsland States and in the ratio of 75t25 in respect of the rest of the States. Fifteen State Governments  i.e, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra,  (rdisha,  Guiarat,  Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Tamil l{adu, Telangana, Puniab, Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand, Uttarakhand &  Madhya Pradesh have consented and identified their respective  Districts ({ District Per State) for implementation  of the Pilot Scheme.  So far, Six states namely of Andhra Pradesh, Guiarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh & Uttar Pradesh have started distribution  of fortified rice under the Pilot Scheme. Mid-Day Meal (MDM) and ICDS are covered under the provisions  of NFSA.

Ministry of Women and Ghild Development & Department  of School Education and Literacy had agreed to bear the Incrementa! Gost (Rs O.73lKg) for fortification  of rice under IGDS and MDM respectively,

The procurement  policy of Government  of lndia (GOl) is open ended, under which paddy and wheat offered by farmers within the stipulated  period (conforming  to specifications  prescribed in advance by GOI) are purchased for Gentral  Pool at Minimum Support Price (MSP) by Food Corporation of lndia/ State Governments/State Government Agencies to help fanners get remunerative  price  and  prevent distress sale.  However, if any producer/farmer  gets better price in comparison  to MSP, he/she is free to sell his/her produce irn open market. Minimum Support Price operations are given wide publicity through pamphlets, banners, sign boards, radio, Tv and advertisernents  through print & electronic media. Goarsegrains are procured at MSP by State Governments as per the procurement plan prepared in consultation with FGI and approved by the Central Government,  subiect to its distribution  by the State Govemment under National Food Security Act (NFSA)/Other  Wellfare  Schemes  (OWS).

3t-

(b) & (clr  The National  Food Security Act' 2Ot3 (NFSA) provides  a legal entitlement to 8'1.35 crore persons  to avail foodgrains  at highly subsidized rates. The Act provides  for coverage ol 75o/o of the rural and 5O% of the urban population, i,e. about two-thirds  of the total population of the country, for receiving  foodgrains at highly subsidized  prices of Rs.3l2l1  per kg for rice/ wheat/ coarsegrains respectively.  The Act also has a provision for food security  allowance to entitled beneficiaries  in case of non'supply  of entitled foodgrains or meats subiect to conditions.  Accordingly,  Government has notified Food Security Altowance Rules, 2O15. ln addition to this, the Act provides that pregnant  women and lactating mothers and children in the age group of 6 months to '14 years are entitled to meals as per prescribed nutritional  norms under lntegrated Ghild Development Services  (IGDS) and Mid-Day Meal (ltffDM)  schemes.  Higher nutritional norms are prescribed for malnourished chf,ldren upto 6 years of age.