Lok Sabha Question No. 4166 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Delay in Issuance of New Ration Cards
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.4166

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26TH MARCH, 2025

## DELAY  IN ISSUANCE OF NEW RATION CARDS

4166. MS. PRANITI  SUSHILKUMAR  SHINDE:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the delays faced by residents of North  Solapur in obtaining new ration cards, increasing units or making name changes and if  so, the steps being taken to  streamline  these processes;
- (b) the  measures being  implemented by  the  Government to  address irregular  ration distribution and ensure the timely delivery of foodgrains to beneficiaries; and
- (c) the steps being taken by  the Government to expedite the issuance of documents from the Setu office to improve public  service efficiency?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) to  (c): Targeted Public Distribution  System (TPDS) under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 is operated under the joint  responsibility of  the Central and the State/Union Territory  (UT)  Governments. Central Government is responsible for  procurement, allocation and transportation of  foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).  The operational responsibilities for  allocation of  foodgrains within  the  States/  UTs, identification of  eligible  beneficiaries, issuance of  ration  cards to  them,  distribution of foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries  under TPDS, issuance of license to Fair Price Shop dealers, supervision over and monitoring  of functioning of FPSs etc. rest with the concerned State/ UT Governments. This principle  of shared responsibility  is clearly  enshrined in  Sections 23, 24, and 25 of the NFSA,  which  outline  the respective roles and collaborative  duties  of both levels of government.

It  has been corroborated by  the Maharashtra State Government that North  Solapur Tehsil has attained its  target given  by  the  State in  accordance with  NFS A.  The  State Government  of  Maharashtra  is making  sustained efforts  to  weed  out  ineligible beneficiaries, thereby ensuring space for  the inclusion of  more eligible beneficiaries. It  is pertinent to highlight that, as per Section 10 of the NFSA, 2013. the responsibility of idenlification and regular updating of the list  of eligible  beneficiaries rests solely  with  the State Government.

State Government had been earlier facing some technical challenges pertaining to their online  portal vv'ww.rcms.mahafood.gov.in and  issues related  to  synchronization  with  the Aadhaar server. which  now have been resolved.

The food grain distribution to the beneficiaries is being done  using ePOS-based applications to ensure  timely delivery and authenticated distribution. The food grain distribution using ePOS Machines for  the month of  Jan 25  &  Feb 25  is  94% &  95% respectively. The State Governrnent has placed special elbphasis on enhancing the efficiency of public  sen'ices through tools such as RCMS and MAHAePOS, which have substantially contributed towards timely  updation of  records and ensured error'free  operations for  the benefit of the citizens

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