Lok Sabha Question No. 3280 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Changes in Pattern of Nutritional Intake
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3280

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 9TH AUGUST,  2023

## CHANGES IN PATTERN OF NUTRITIONAL INTAKE

## 3280.  SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION 3qvfttm qu&,  @rush m&rfqq f+var ++  be pleased  to state:

- (a) considering a  change in  the pattern of nutritional intake among people in both rural and urban areas which indicates a reduced preference for rice and wheat and an increase in preference towards other proteinrich  food  items, whether the Government  plans  to incorporate these changes in the commodities distributed under the Public Distribution System  (PDS);
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the Government has taken any steps to diversify foodgrains
- distributed under PDS to include more sustainable crop production; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

INISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) to (d): Under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), highly subsidized foodgrains are provided to States/UTs for distribution to around 80 crore beneficiaries through Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Under the Act, the term 'foodgrains' is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time.  In  addition  to  this,  the  State/UT Governments  may continue  with  or formulate food or nutrition  based plans or schemes providing for benefits higher than the benefits provided under this Act.  Further, in  order to address anaemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country, Government of  India approved supply of fortified  rice throughout  the TPDS, Integrated Child Development Services (leDS), Pradhan Mantri  Poshan Shakti Nirman ·  PM POSHAN [erstwhile Mid-Day Meal Scheme  (MDM)] and Other Welfare Schemes  of  Government of India in all States/UTs by  2024  in  phased lnannern

Coarse grains/Millets are allocated under PDS in lieu of equal quantity of wheat/rice  (as requested by State) while ensuring that the overall quantity of rice, wheat and Coarse grains has to be within the upper ceiling fixed in respect of each State/UT under NFSA. The State-wise details of Coarse grains allocated during last two years as well as current year are at Annexure-l.

Government has  also  planned  to increase  procurement and distribution  of  Coarse grains/Millets under public  distribution  scheme as detailed under:

- (i) Advance planning for  achieving higher procurement targets  of coarse grains with  major contribution  of Bajra and Ragi.
- (ii)  State to  include millet for  distribution under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY) in lieu of wheat/rice.,
- (iii)  Procuring States are  advised to  convey the  surplus quantity  well  in advance. Similarly, deficit  States are advised to convey their requirement of coarse  grains/millets weII  in  advancen
- (iv) States are requested to  encourage the diversification of  crops by enhancing the production of more coarse grains/millets.

In addition to this, Government has made special efforts for popularizing millets. Department of Food & Public Distribution and field offices i.e. Food Corporation of  India (FOI) and Central Warehousing Corporation  (CWC) have created awareness about the millets through organizing Millets Awareness Programme/Competition/Seminars  etc.  Ministry of Agriculture  and Farmers Welfare, being Nodal Ministry, on the occasion of  International Year of Millets  (IYOM), has  organized Global Millet  Conference in  which  the following production/activities were done for popularizing millets:

- (i) Production of Short video film and Jingles
- (ii) Wider Publicity Campaign of the event was carried out from 15th 22"d March,  2023
- (iii) Advertisement was published in newspapers across the country on 1 8.03.2023
- (iV) In addition to above, 06 Short Video Films have also been
- produced for  popularizing  millets.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN  REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3280 FOR ANSWER ON 09.08.2023 IN THE LOK SABHA

## The State-wise details of Coarse grains allocated from 2021-22

## (in Thousand Tons)

| Year                       | State          | Type of grain   | Quantity     |         | Total   |
|----------------------------|----------------|-----------------|--------------|---------|---------|
| 2021                       | Karnataka      | Ragi            | 556.10       |         |         |
|                            | Uttar Pradesh  | Maize           | 2.76         | 558.86  | 1560.84 |
|                            | OWS-WBNP       | Bajra           | 1 .98        | 1 .98   |         |
|                            | Karnataka      | Ragi/Jowar      | 470.29       |         | 585.51  |
|                            | Haryana        | Bajra/Maize     | 67.50        |         | 585.51  |
|                            | Madhya Pradesh | JeM             | 0.23         |         | 585.51  |
|                            | U.P.           | Bajra           | 43.44        |         | 585.51  |
|                            | Kerala         | Ragi            | 0.99         |         | 585.51  |
|                            | Tamil-Nadu     | Ragi            | 1.37         | 583.82  | 585.51  |
|                            | OWS-WBNP       | Bajra           | 1 1.69 1 .69 | 1 1 .69 | 585.51  |
| 2023-24 (as on 03.08.2023) | Andhra Pradesh | Lagi 2          |              | 736.24  |         |
| 2023-24 (as on 03.08.2023) | Karnataka      | Ragi 7TO        |              | 736.24  |         |
| 2023-24 (as on 03.08.2023) | Kerala         | Ragi To         |              | 736.24  | 1736.24 |
| 2023-24 (as on 03.08.2023) | Tamil-Nadu     | Ragi --[T21     |              | 736.24  |         |

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