Lok Sabha Question No. 1471 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Food Insecurity
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dr. Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1471 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH DECEMBER, 2024

## FOOD INSECURITY

## 1471. DR. MOHAMMAD  JAWED:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION wrtu7 wig umar WT+gfqqfiam Ht be pleased to state:

- (a) the total  number of  individuals  experiencing food insecurity in  the country,  Statewise;
- (b) the reasons for which the Government is failing to ensure equitable distribution of foodgrains  particularly  in remote and underserved regions;
- (c) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to improve the quality  and nutritional value of foodgrains provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS); and
- (d) the manner in which the Government monitors the effectiveness of food security programme across the country?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) & (b): The National Food Security Act,  2013 (NFSA) provides for coverage of upto 75% of  rural population and upto 50% of urban population for  receiving highly subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution  System (TPDS), thus covering about two-thirds  of  the total  population.  Coverage under the Act  is substantially high to ensure that all  the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit. The Act  is being successfully implemented in all the States/UTs and free of cost foodgrains are being distributed to about 80.67 crore beneficiaries as per their entitlement under the Act.  There is no report from any State/UT regarding food insecurity.

(c): in order to achieve uniform nutritional impact of fortified rice among the targeted popu]ation, the Government of India is supplying fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public  Distribution System (TPDS), Pmdhan Manta  Poshan Shakti Nirman  (PM POSHAN)  Scheme, and Integrated  Child  Development  Services (ICDS)  Scheme and in other Welfare Schemes (OWS) in all  States and Union Territories (UTs). Custom-milled rice has been replaced with  fortified  rice in every scheme of the Government and 100% coverage of distribution of fortj fied rice has been achieved by March, 2024. Millets, which are common]y known as Nutri-  Cereals, are already a part of Public Distribution  System (PDS)

(d) : The NFSA provides for periodic social audits on the functioning of fair price shops, Targeted Public Distribution  System and other welfare schemes, through local authority, or  any other authority or body, as may be authorized by the State Government. The Central Government may also conduct or cause to be conducted social audit through independent agencies having  experience in  conduct of  such audits.

The Government  has engaged Monitoring  Institutions  (MIs)  of repute to undertake concurrent evaluation of  the  implementation of  National  Food  Security Act,  2013 (NFSA)  in all  States/UTs for  03 years (2020-23). The questionnaires devised for  the evaluation exercise also covered few  questions on the receipt of  free foodgrains under PMG]mY. Reports submitted by the MIs  of the surveyed households indicate that ration under NFSA have been provided free of cost since January 2023 to eligible  beneficiaries during the period of survey.

+ + + q: 8