Lok Sabha Question No. 1616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Open Market Sale Scheme
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NOH1616 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13TH DECEMBER, 2023

## OPEN MARKET SALE SCHEME

## 1616.  DR. T. SUMATHY (A) THAI llZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC

DiSTRiBUTiON aqvftnr qB, @ra3it€T4gfM f+var IHt be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that many States were excluded from the Open Market Sale Scheme-Domestic (OMSS-D) by the  Government and FCI, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has done a recent survey to ensure the quantity of food that needs to be distributed, State-wise;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether there are any alternative procurement methods to  ensure adequate and timely supply of food for the States, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Under Open Market Sale Scheme-Domestic OMSS (D), IOI.5  LMT of wheat has been allocated for release into the open market upto 31.03.2024 to increase supplies and control  prices. FCI has so far  released 44.65LMT of wheat at a reserve price of Rs. 2150 per quintal and Rs. 2125 per quintal for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) and Under Relaxed Specification (URS) wheat, respectively, through weekly e-auction across the country.

Out of this,  4  LMT of  wheat has been allocated so far,  to  semigovernment and cooperative organisations like  National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing  Federation of  India  Limited  (NAFED), National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of  India Limited  (NCCF) and Kendriya Bhandar @ Rs.21,.50 per kg for conversion into atta  and for sale as 'Bharat Atta' at a Maximum Retail price (MRP) not exceeding Rs. 27.50 per kg for the  benefit of general consumers, These interventions  in the open market have increased availability  of foodgrains and moderated prices.

Besides, Government is  providing foodgrains to  beneficiaries in  all States/UTs as per their entitlement  free of cost under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PM-GKAY) w.e.f.  lst  January, 2023. Free foodgrains under PM-GKAY shall continue to  be provided for further 5 years w.e.f. Of.Of.2024 to beneficiaries in all States/UTs, at an estimated cost to the Union Government, of  Rs.11.79 lakh  crores.  With a view  to  benefit  n  140 crore citizens of the country, Government of India has taken the decision to maintain adequate stock in Central Pool for market intervention to control inflation and therefore, sale of wheat and rice under OMSS(D) to States only has been discontinued w.e.f. 13.06.2023. However, the sale of rice under OMSS(D) is to continue in the North-Eastern States, Hilly States and States facing law and order situation and natural calamities.

- (b)  to  (c): Based on  68th  Round of  National Sample Organization (NSSO) Household Consumption  Expenditure  Survey  (2011-12), Tendulkar  Poverty Estimates, (2011-12) and  2011  Population Census Data,  the  Central Government is providing free food grains to about 81.35 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) Households and Priority  Households (PHH) beneficiaries covering 75% of rural and 50% of urban population under PM-GKAY. A total of 607.1 Lakh Tonnes  of foodgrains  have  been allocated for the year 2023-24.

(d): The estimates of procurement of Paddy (in terms of rice), wheat and coarse grains are finalized by Government of  India in  consultation with State  Governments and Food  Corporation of India,  before  the cornrnencement of each  marketing season based upon  estimated production, marketable surplus and agricultural  crop pattern.

Procurement in  a  State  depends not  only  upon production  but  also upon other multiple factors like  marketable surplus, MSP, prevailing market rate, demand and supply situation  etc.

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