Lok Sabha Question No. 2659 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Reforms in Public Distribution System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2659 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7TH AUGUST. 2024

## REFORMS IN PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  SYSTEM

## 2659  SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT

Will  the Minister of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION WItm qmg, um  air  tIT+Vfjq fqapr +a be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the Public Distribution  System (PDS):
- (b) the details of the amount sanctioned,  allocated and utilized  during the last four years in Bihar. Jharkhand and West Bengal thereunder, district-wise;
- (c) the details of  the target set and achievements  made so far under the schedule along u'ith its response  within  the country especially in the above said States;
- (d) whether the Government is planning to reform the PDS and storage sector withIn  the coulltly I and
- (e) if  so, the time  by  which  it  is likely  to be implemented?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA}

- (a): The Targeted Public Distribution  System (TPDS) is implemented under the National Food Security Act (NFS A),  2013 in  all  States/Us. The Act  provides coverage upto 75% of  the rural population and upto  50%  of the  urban population for receiving foodgrains (rice,  \vhedt & coarsegrains).  Under  the  Act  eligible families comprise  of  Priority Households (PHH)  ,Ind  Ant>'odaya Anna Yojana (A AY)  households. The Priority Households are entitled to receive 5 kg of  foodgrains per person per month and the households covered under the AAY  receive 35 kg of  foodgrains pel month per family.  Under the TPDS, foodgrains were provided at subsidized prices upto December. 2022. However> w.e.f.  Ist  January, 2023, foodgrains under the Act are being distributed to eligible beneficiaries free of cost under Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yojand.

NFS A  is operated under the joint  responsibilities  of the Central  and State/UT Go\'enllnents Centrdl Government is responsible for  procurement, allocation  and transportation of foodgralns upto the designated depots of  the Food Corporation of  India (PCI). The operational responsibilities for identification  of  eligible  beneficiaries/families,  issuance  of  ration  cards to  them, distribution  of foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries and supervision and monitoring of functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs), etc. rests with  the concerned  State/UT Government

(b): The  Govemment of  India  allocates subsidized foodgrains to States/UTs for  monthly distribution to  all  NFS A  ration card  holders.  The  details  of  foodgrains allocated to  Bihar. Jhar}\hand and West Bengal during the last four years as well as current year under Targeted Public Distribution are at Annexure

Further, the details of fund  released under the Centrally  Sponsored Scheme ''Assistance to State Agencies for  intra- state movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers- margin under NFS A-- to the States of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal in the last four years is as follows:

(Fig. in Rs. Crore)

| State       |   2020-21 | 2021-22   | 2022-23   | 2023-24   | Total     |
|-------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Bihar       |    796.58 | 743 ,27   | 881.05    | 434.73    | 2855.64   |
| Jharkhand   |    170.94 | 282.50    | 187.02    | 99. 64    | 740. 1O   |
| West Bengal |    626.64 | 741.32    | 535,06    | 226.32    | 2 1 29.35 |

(c): Allocation  of  foodgrains to  States/UTs under the  NFSA,  2013 is  made on  the  basis of State/UT-wise coverage of  population determined by the then Planning Commission, identification  of beneficiaries by States/UTs within  the coverage and foodgrains entitlement prescribed under the Act The Act furTher provides  that if  on the above basis, annual foodgrains allocation to any State/UT  is lower than the average annual offtake during 2010-11 to  2012-13 under erstwhile normal Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the same shall be protected and the State shall be allocated foodgrains as specified in  Schedule IV.  As  per Schedule-IV of the National  Food Security Act.  2013. the  States/Us  are entitled to 549.26 LMT of  foodgrains per  annum. Under NFS A.  2013 the States/UTs are being allocated  around 46.235  LMT  of  food  grains per month (approx.  554.83LM1 annum).  Inclusion/exclusion  of beneficiaries  under the Act  is a continuous  process

(d) to (e): As part of the technology driven Public Distribution System  (PDS) reforms, with the aim to improve the efficiency and transparency of the PDS and to address various challenges such as leakages and  diversion  of foodgrains, ration  cards/beneficiaries  database have  been  completel\ digitized  in  all  States/Us. The transparency portal  and online  grievance redressal facility/Toll-free number have been implemented in all States/LTs. Also,  online allocation has been implemented in all States/UTs (except UTs of  Chandigwh and Puducherr}' which  have adopted DBT  Cash Transfel scheme) and supply chain has been computerized in 31 States/UTs. Further. nearly 5.41 Lakh OtII of total 5.43 Lanl Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country have been automated b\- installing ePoS devices for  the distribution  of  foodgrains in  a transparent manner (electronic,HIv) through  biometric/ Aadhaar authentication  of  beneficiaries

Food Corporation of  India has undertaken taken various initiatives to  refOITn  storage scclol such as under

- (i)  Construction of SILOs under Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode
- (ii)  Phasing out of Covered and Plinth (CAP)
- (iii)  Third party assessment of warehouses by FCI from Quality Council of India
- (iv)  Mechanization of Warehouse operations
- (v) Warehousing  Development Regulatory Authority  (WDRA)  Certification  of FCI godo\\'ns

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## ANNEX  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2659 DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON  07.08.2024

## Allocation  and OfFtake of Foodgr'ains under  TPDS

+  +  +

(Fig. in Thousand tons)

| SI. No   | States/ 1UTs   |    |     |    | I   |       I |         |
|----------|----------------|----|-----|----|-----|---------|---------|
|          | Jharkhand      |  1 | 1   |  1 |     | 137.998 | 107. 16 |
|          | West Benga     |  3 | mm3 |  3 |     | 992.65  | 995.58  |

Offtake  Source: FCI