Lok Sabha Question No. 4205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Distribution of Foodgrains under NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.4205

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26TH MARCH, 2025

## DISTRIBUTION  OF FOODGRAINS UNDER NFSA

## 4205. SHRI MUHAMMED FLAMDULLAH SAYEED:

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

- (a) the current status of the implementation of the National Food Security Act  (NFS A)  and the number of beneficiaries that have been covered under the Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yoj ana (PMGKAY) during  the last year;
- (b) whether the Government has taken measures to  ensure the timely  distribution of foodgrains under the NFSA  and if  so, the details thereof;  and
- (c) the number of  grievances related to  foodgrain distribution which have been resolved during the last year?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): The National Food Security Act,  2013 (NFSA)  is being successfully implemented in all the States/ Union Territories. At present, against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are identified  by the States,fUTs under the Act  for receiving  foodgrains free of cost

The coverage of beneficiaries under the Act during the last three years is as follows:  -

(in  lakh)

|   As on 31.03.2022 |   As on 31.03.2023 |   on 31.3.2024 |   As on 15.03.2025 |
|--------------------|--------------------|----------------|--------------------|
|            7972.53 |             8010.7 |        8049.94 |            8056.02 |

(b): As part of the technology driven Public Distribution System (PDS) reforms, with the aim  to  improve  the  efficiency  and reduce leakages in  the  PDS, the  ration  cards/beneficiaries database have been completely  digitized  (100%)  in all  States/UTs. The transparency portal  and online grievance redressal facility/Toll-free number have been implemented in  all States/UTs. Also,  online  allocation  has been implemented in  all  States/UTs (except UTs of  Chandigarh, Puducherry and Urban area ofDadra  & Nagar Haven, which have adopted DBT  Cash Transfer scheme) and the supply chain has been computerized in  31 States/UTs. Further, 5.41 lakh (99.6%) out of total 5.43 lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) have been automated by installing ePoS devices for  the distribution  of  foodgrains in  a transparent manner (electronically) through biometric/Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries under the PDS system.

(c): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) governed under National Food Security Act,  2013 (NFS A)  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 families, issuance of  ration cards to them, distribution  of  foodgrains to  eligible  beneficiaries under TPDS and supervision over and monitoring  of  functioning  of  Fair  Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with  the concerned State/ UT  Governments.

Helpline number 1967/1800-State series number is operational in all the States/ UTs for contacting and redressal of the complaints in Public Distribution  System (PDS) and filing  any type of complaints by the intended beneficiaries.

As and when Complaints are received including  food grains distributed, in Department of  Food  and  Public Distribution (DFPD) from any  source,  they are  sent  to State/UT Governments concerned for inquiry  and appropriate action. No such data regarding number of grievances resolved is not maintained by DFPD. A statement of complaints on TPDS received in the Department in 2024 is at Annexure-l.

#####

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) of UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4205 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 26.03.2025 IN THE LOK  SABHA

## COMPLAINTS ON TPDS RECEIVED IN  THE  DEPARTMENT FROM INDIVIDUALS. ORGANISATIONS & THROUGH MEDIA REPORTS ETC. in 2024

| S. No.   | State/ UT         | 2024   |
|----------|-------------------|--------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh    | 39     |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh |        |
| 3        | Assam             | 178    |
| 4        | Bihar             | 1720   |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh      | 69     |
| 6        | Delhi             | 346    |
| 7        | Goa               | 2      |
| 8        | Gujarat           | 182    |
| 9        | Harm              | 240    |
| 10       | Himachal Pradesh  | 8      |
| 11       | J&K               | 57     |
| 12       | Jharkhand         | 738    |
| 13       | Karnataka         | 126    |
| 14       | Kerala            | 8      |
| 15       | Madhya Pradesh    | 157    |
| 16       | Maharashtra       | 376    |
| 17       | Manipur           |        |
| 18       | Megha$            | 5      |
| 19       | Miziram           |        |
| 20       | Nagaland          |        |
| 21       | m(                | 217    |
| 22       | Punjab            | 115    |
| 23       | RajaM             | 121    |
| 24       | Sikkim            |        |
| 25       | Tamil Nadu        | 151    |
| 26       | Telangana         | 36     |
| 27       | Tipur;            | 5      |
| 28       | a                 | 68     |
| 29       | Uttar Pradesh     | 2201   |
| 30       | WestBengal        | 160    |
| 31       | A&N Island        |        |
| 32       | Chandjgarh        |        |
| 33       | D& N Hv ;         |        |
| 34       | Lakshadwee        |        |
| 35       | Puduche:          | 5      |
| 36       | Ladakh            |        |
| TOTAL    | TOTAL             | 7331   |