Lok Sabha Question No. 3015 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Challenges in Accessing PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Thiru Dr. S Jagathratchakan

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.3015

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH MARCH, 2025

## CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING PDS

## 3015. SHRI S JAGATHRATCHAKAN:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to  state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the challenges faced by marginalized communities in  accessing the Public Distribution System (PDS) including exclusion due to  biometric verification  issues and delays in the issuance of ration cards and if  so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps being taken to  address unnecessary documentation requirements for PDS enrollment  which  are not  mandated under the National  Food Security Act,  2013 or the PDS Control Order, 2015 ;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any audit or review of the functioning of  fair price  shops including  the  under-distribution of  foodgrains and exploitation  by  middlemen during the ration card application process and if  so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the measures being planned to improve the digital  accessibility of PDS services while ensuring that marginalized communities without  digital  literacy or resources can access their entitlements?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a)  to  (b): Targeted Public  Distribution System (TPDS)  under National  Food  Security Act mSA), 2013 is operated under the joint  responsibility of the Central and the State/Union Territory  (UT)  Governments. Central  Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).  The operational responsibilities for  allocation  of  foodgrains within  the States/ UTs, identification  of  eligible beneficiaries, issuance of  ration cards to  them, distribution of foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries under TPDS, issuance of license to Fair Price Shop dealers, supervision over and monitoring  of functioning  of FPSs etc. rest with the concerned State/ UT Governments. All State/UT Governments have been advised to  cover maximum eligible persons up to the respective NFSA  ceiling  limits  to ensure that maximum  eligible  beneficiaries get the benefit of NFS A  foodgrains as per the coverage limit  mandated under the NFS A.

(c):  Section 28  of  NFSA, 2013 and Clause 12 of  TPDS (Control) Order, 2015 inter-alia provide that every local authority,  or any other authority  or body, as may be authorised by the State Government, shall conduct or  cause to  be conducted, periodic  social audits on the functioning of TPDS,  and cause to publicise its findings and take necessary action, in  such manner as may be prescribed by the State Govenlm\_ent.

(d):  As part of  the technology  driven Public Distribution  System (PDS) reforms, with  the aim to  improve the efficiency  and reduce leakages in the PDS, ration cards/beneficiaries database have been completely digitized (100%) in all  States/UTs. Further, nearly 5.41 Lakh (99.6%) out of total 5.43 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country have been automated by installing e-PoS  devices for the distribution of foodgrains in a transparent manner (electronically) through biometric/Aadhaar authentication of  beneficiaries. The process of distributing foodgrains through e-PoS devices is very simple and does not require any special digital  literacy  among beneficiaries to  lift their  entitled  foodgrains through  electronic transactions. Further,  States/ UTs  are advised to  ensure that  e-PoS printed  transaction receipts are provided to all  beneficiaries in  local language, besides SKIS are sent on their  registered mobile  numbers to ensure complete transparency in distribution process.

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