Lok Sabha Question No. 3278 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Quality of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal, Locket Chatterjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3278 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9TH AUGUST, 2023

## QUALITY  OF FOODGRAINS

13278. SHRI AJAY  KUMAR  MANDAL: MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE: SHRI JUGAL  KISHORE SHARMA: SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: SHRIMATI  SANDHYA  RAY:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION aTqtfm qpa, ©TH gk TfT#tfRq; fRIWT IHt be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any  detailed  report regarding the  quality  of  foodgrains being distributed under the  Public  Distribution System (PDS) is  available with  the Government;
- (b) if  so, the State-wise details thereof including the district-wise details of
- Madhya Pradesh;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any concrete steps to ensure distribution of superior quality of foodgrains under the Public Distribution System
- and also for the foodgrains  being used for the mid-day-meal schemes;
- (d) if  so1 the  details thereof;  and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

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

(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) & (b): Targeted  Public  Distribution  System  (TPDS) is  operated  under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/UT Governments. Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India (F01). The operational responsibilities  for intra-state allocation and distribution  of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards and supervision and monitoring of the Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with the concerned State/UT Governments. Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products are being carried out by the machinery of  Food Safety  Departments of  the  respective  States/UTs to  check compliance of the standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made there under.

(c) to (e):  Yes Sir.  Government has issued following  instructions  to State Governments/UTs and FCI to  ensure the supply of good quality  foodgrains under PDS and other welfare schemes (OWS):

- > Only good quality foodgrains free from insect  infestation  and conforming to Food Safety Standards are to be issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes.
- >  Ample opportunities are provided to the State Government/UT Administration to  inspect  the  stocks  prior  to  lifting  from  FCI godowns. State/UTs may ensure that  officers not below the rank of Inspector are deputed for  inspection of  the foodgrains before their  lifting  from FCI godowns.
- > Samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to  be issued under the TPDS jointly by FCI and State Government/UT Administration.
- > An officer not below the rank of Inspector is to be deputed from State Government to take the delivery of foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
- > Regular inspection to check the quality of foodgrains is to be carried out by the officers of State Government.
- >  it is the responsibility of the concerned State Government/UT Administration to  ensure that  during  transportation  and  storage at different stages in  the  distribution chain, the  foodgrains retain the required quality specifications.
- > The State Government, where the decentralized procurement is  in operation, should ensure that  the quality  of  foodgrains issued under TPDS and  other  welfare schemes  should  meet  the  desired  standards under the Food Safety and Standards Authority  of India (FSSAI).

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