Lok Sabha Question No. 3137 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: PDS in Maharashtra
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre

## ORIGINAL IN HINDI

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3 137

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH MARCH, 2025

## PDS IN MAHARASHTRA

## 13 137. SHRI BALYA  MAMA  SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE:

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

- (a) the number and the details of  complaints registered for  ration distribution  under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in each district of Maharashtra along with  the action taken thereon
- (b) the total  number of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in Maharashtra;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to open new FPSs and if  so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the One Nation One Ration Card scheme has been successfblly implemented in Maharashtra;
- (e) if  so, the details and the number  of beneficiaries under the said scheme, district-wise; and
- (f) the details of  the technical improvements  made to  ensure transparency in  foodgrain distribution under PDS in Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) to (b): The Targeted Public  Distribution System (TPDS)  is  governed under National Food Security Act  (NFSA), 2013 and it  is operated under the joint  responsibility of  the Central and the State/Union Territory  (UT)  Governments. The operational responsibilities  for allocation  of  foodgrains within the  States/ UTs,  identification  of  eligible  beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards to them, distribution of food grains to the eligible beneficiaries under TPDS, issuance of license to the Fair Price Shop dealers, supervision over and monitoring  of functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with  the concerned State/UT Governments.

As and when complaints relating to TPDS, are received in this Department from any source, they are sent to the concerned State/UT Government for  inquiry  and appropriate action.

As per the Government of Maharashtra, 3575 complaints were disposed off  out of the near about 3791 complaints  received and there are 51573 FPS in the State.

(c): No new FPS are proposed to open in Maharashtra. But as the State's Policy, new FPSs are sanctioned after surrender and cancellation  of existing  FPSs after following due process.

(d)  to  (e): One Nation  One Ration Card (ONORC)  is implemented in Maharashtra w.e.f.  01st January, 2020. Under ONORC, average 12 Lakh Ration Card holders within  the State are lifting foodgrains in  a month. Further,  1,13,718 Ration  Card holders from  Maharashtra have lifted  grains in other States and 13,64,850 Ration Card holders from other States have lifted grains in  Maharashtra from  January, 2020 to February  2025.

(f): The State has undertaken the  end-to-end computerization of  the  PDS  to  eradicate malpractices from National Food Security Act  Scheme and distribution of PDS commodities by authenticating biometric  identity  of beneficiary. Eligible  beneficiaries are informed through SMS about their foodgrains entitlements.

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