Lok Sabha Question No. 2778 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Extra Grain Rice to Kerala
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2778

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17Tll DECEMBER, 2025

## EXTRA GRAIN RICE TO KERALA

## 2778. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

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

- (a): whether it  is a fact that  the Union  Government has not  provided even a single extra  grain of rice to  the  State  of  Kerala during the  C)nam festival despite  the  State Government's demand for extra allocation;
- (b): if  so, the reasons therefor;
- (c): whether it is also true that the Union  Government had denied additional  allocation of  foodgrains during Covid- 19 pandemic .and devastating flood in the State of Kerala;
- (d): whether it is a fact that by denying extra or additional allocation of foodgrains the Union Government was trying  to weaken the Public Distribution  System (PDS) in the State; and
- (e): whether the  Union  Government was  not  interested in  alleviating hardships  in the Kerala  State? the public

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) &  (b): Government of Kerala had requested an additional allocation of 5 kg of rice at Tide  Over  rates  for  Non-NFSA (National Food  Security Act) cardholders for  September 2025, for C)nam festival. The State was informed that additional quantities of rice may be availed through the Open Market  Sales Scheme (Domestic) (OMSS-D)  or under the extant policy guidelines governing additional allocations of food grains on account of festivals, natural calamities, and law & order situations.
- (c): To ameliorate the hardships  faced by the poor  due to economic  disruption  caused by COVID-19 Pandemic, Government of India in March 2020 had announced the additional free-of-cost  foodgrains to NFSA  beneficiaries at the scale of  5 Kg  per person per month

under  the  Pradhan  Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for all  States/UTs including Kerala. The State of Kerala had sought additional quantities of  rice for NonNFSA families free of cost during the CC)VID-19 period over &  above PMGKAY.  It was clarified  that no provision, policy,  or rule  exists for  allocating foodgrains free of  cost or at NFSA rates to Non-NFSA  beneficiaries. However, considering the hardship during the pandemic, the State was advised to lift  the required quantity under OMSS (D).

Subsequently, Kerala had also requested an additional  50,000 MT  of  foodgrains at NFSA rates in view of floods in 2021. The State was apprised to lift  food grains as per extant guidelines governing additional allocation of  food grains on account of  festivals, natural calamities and law &  order situations, to  which  no further communication was received from Kerala.

Govt. of  Kerala has lifted  35365 MT  Wheat &  145795 MT  Rice under OMSS(D) from 2020-21 to 2025-26 (till  date), as per following  details:

(in MTs)

| Year     | Wheat   |   Rice |
|----------|---------|--------|
| ron-:21  | 35365   |  51280 |
| 2021 -22 | 0       |  80000 |
| B-dm     | 0       |      0 |
| BaT:27   | 0       |   1995 |
| no       | 0       |   4394 |
| t        |         |   8126 |
| otal     |         | 145795 |

(d)  &  (e): No  Sir.  The Union  Government  has not denied the request of the Government of Kerala for additional allocation offoodgrains  as stated above.

The  Union  Government remains  fully committed  to  ensuring  food  security, extending necessary support to  all  States/UTs including  Kerala,  and addressing public hardships in accordance with  the established guidelines  and available  resources.

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