Lok Sabha Question No. 2265 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Targeted Public Distribution System in Bodoland
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Joyanta Basumatary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.2265

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH MARCH, 2025

## TARGETED PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN BODOLAND

## 2265. SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY:

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

- (a) the  details  regarding  the  number  of  households covered  by  the  Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in Bodoland Territorial Region, Assam during the last five years, district-wise;
- (b) the details regarding quantity of foodgrains and  other essential  commodities distributed to these beneficiaries during the last five years, district-wise;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to identify and include eligible households who are not  currently benefiting from  the TPDS and the number of  new beneficiaries added during the last year; and
- (d) the details of the number of complaints received on the TPDS during the last five years from  Bodoland  Territorial Region?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): Under the National Food Security Act,  2013 (NFSA),  against the intended coverage of  251.90 lakh persons, 247.98 lakh beneficiaries are presently covered in the  State of Assam. District  wise data is not maintained by the Central Government.
- (b): Under the Act,  while  Antyodaya  Anna Yojana  (AAY)  households that constitute the poorest of the poor are legally entitled to receive 35 kg of foodgrains per Household per month, priority  households are entitled to 5 kg per person per month free of  cost. The entitlement of  beneficiaries under the Act  is uniformly  applicable across the country since commencement of the Act.

Under the Act, the term 'foodgrains'  is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming  to such quality  norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time

- (c): The Central Government has issued advisory, from  time  to  time,  to  all  the States/Union Territories  to  identify all  eligible  and poor  persons/ households including vulnerable Sections of  the  Society for  inclusion  under the NFSA.  States clean up their beneficiary database so that bogus ration cards get deleted and better targeting of  rightful beneficiaries is ensured. Thus, deletion of  ineligible  beneficiaries and addition of  eligible beneficiaries under the Act  is a continuous process and beneficiaries database is dynamic in nature.
- (d): TPDS is operated under the joint  responsibility of  the Central and the State/UT Governments wherein the operational responsibilities for implementation of PDS within  the State/UT rest  with the  State/UT Governments concerned. Therefore, as  and when complaints are received by the Government from  individuals  and organizations as well  as through  press reports, these are sent to  State/UT Governments concerned for  inquiry  and approprIate action.

Year wise  number of  complaints i.r.o  State of  Assam received from  from individuals,  organization  &  through  media reports etc from  2020 to 2024 are as follows:

|       | Years   |   No. of Complaints |
|-------|---------|---------------------|
|       | 2020    |                  39 |
|       | 202 1   |                   8 |
|       | 2022    |                  13 |
|       | 2023    |                  48 |
|       | 2024    |                 178 |
| Total | Total   |                 286 |

District  wise data of  complaints is not maintained by the Central Government

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