Lok Sabha Question No. 5233 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Free Ration Distribution
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Smt. Lovely Anand

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTIUBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5233

TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND APRIL, 2025

## FREE RATION DISTRIBUTION

## + 5233 ,  SMT. LOVELY ANAND :

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

- (a) the main objective of the Prime Minister's scheme of free ration distribution at ration shops;
- (b) the various measures taken to  ensure its  uniform  implementation in  rural and urban areas ;
- (c) whether the  said scheme is  likely  to  have any impact on  farmers and the  food production system;
- (d) the various monitoring mechanisms developed to  check corruption in the distribution process and ensure smooth delivery of ration to the beneficiaries therein; and
- (e) the strategy being adopted by  the Government to make the said scheme sustainable in the future along with  the details thereon

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIM ATI  NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANTYA}

(a) to (e): The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was launched with the specific  purpose of  ameliorating the  hardships faced by  the  poor  and needy due to economic disruptions caused by the COVID- 19 outbreak in the country.  Under the PMGKAY, the beneficiaries i.e. Antyodaya Anna  Yojana (AAY) households and Priority  Households (PHH)  were entitled  to receive additional  5 kilogram  of  foodgrains per person per month, in addition to  regular allocation during the  Covid-19. A  total  quantity  of  approx.  1118 LMT foodgrains was allocated under PMGKAY (Phase I-VII) for  the period  of  28 months with  a total planned financial  outlay of about Rs. 3.91 lakh crore.

The Central Government, in  order to  remove the financial burden of  the poor beneficiaries and to  ensure nationwide uniformity  and effective  implementation of  the programme for support of the poor,  food grains free of cost were provided to AAY  households and PHH beneficiaries, beginning from  Ist January 2023 under the PMGKAY. The period of distribution  of free of  cost foodgrains  has been further  extended for  a period  of  five  years with effect from  Ist January, 2024, with  an estimated financial  outlay of  Rs. 11.80 lakh crore totally to be borne by Central Government.

The Central Government, for  ensuring the  regular supply of  foodgrains to  persons belonging to eligible  households under the NFSA,  allocate the required quantity of foodgrains to  the  State Governments from  the  central pool,  under the  Targeted Public  Distribution System. The foodgrains stock in the central pool  are procured by the Central Government and the State Governments from the farmers through minimum  support. price operations.

The National Food S9curity Act,  20.13 provides for  constjtution/designation  cif State Food Commission for the purpose of monitoring  and review  of  implementation of the Act  in relation to the State.

In  order to  ensure transparency and accountability  in  Targeted Public  Distribution System (TPDS), the Act provides for periodic social audits on the functioning of fair prjce shops, Targeted Public Distribution System and other welfare $chemes, through local authority, or any other authority or body, as may be authorized by the State Government. The Central  Government may  also  conduct or  cause to  be  conducted social  audit  through independQnt agencies having  experience in conduct of such audits

In  addition to  this, the Act  provides for  constitution of Vigilance  Committees at the State, District,  Block  and fair  price shop levels for  ensuring transparency  ,and proper functioning  of the Targeted Public Distribution System and accountability  of the functionaries  in the system.

Provision of free food grains shall mitigate any financial hardship of the affected strata of  society in a sustainable manner and ensure long  term pricing  strategy with  zero cost to the beneficiaries  which is vital for  effective penetration of the Public Distribution  System.

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