Lok Sabha Question No. 251 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Quality of Food under PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Midhun Reddy

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRSI FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.251

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20TH DECEMBERI 2023

## QUALITY  OF FOOD UNDER PDS

## *251.  SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

Will the Minister of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DiSTRiBUTION aVsit?rT qm8, @r© gh tiT#rf+q fqvwr ++ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has put in place any mechanism to ensure quality control  over the food provided under Public Distribution System (PDS) through  ration shops;
- (b) if sol the details  thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether any action is taken in case of violations of quality norms;
- (d) if so, the details  thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether any grievance redressal mechanism has been set up for filing complaints in cases of lapses in quality; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER MINISTER  OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRYI CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND TEXTILES (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO  IN  REPLY TO  PARTS (a)  TO  (f)  OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO. 251  DUE FOR ANSWER ON 20.12.2023  IN THE LOK SABHA.

- (a) and (b): The foodgrain meant for eentral  pool are procured by the Food Corporation of  India  (FOI) as part  of Centralized  Procurement and State Agencies through Decentralized Procurement strictly  as per the uniform specification formulated by the Department of Food and Public Distribution. Targeted Public  Distribution System (TPDS) is  operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/UT Governments. Central Government is  responsible for  procurement, allocation and transportation  of foodgrains upto the designated depots of  the  Food Corporation of  India. The operational responsibilities for intra-state allocation and  distribution of foodgrains within  the States/UTs, identification of  eligible beneficiaries, issuance of  ration cards and supervision and monitoring of the Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with  the concerned State/UT Governments. Further, Government of India has issued following instructions to  State Government/UTs and Food Corporation of  India  (FCI) to  ensure the  supply  of  good quality foodgrains under Public Distribution  System (PD$):
- >  Only good quality foodgrains free from insect infestation and conforming to Food Safety Standards are to be issued under TPDS and
- other welfare schemes.
- >  Ample opportunities are provided to the State Government/UT Administration to inspect the stocks prior to lifting from FCI godowns. State/UTs may ensure that officers not below the rank of Inspector are deputed for  inspection of the foodgrains before their  lifting  from  FCI
- godowns.
- > Samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to be issued under the TPDS jointly by FCI and State
- Government/UT Administration.
- > An officer not below the rank of Inspector is to be deputed from State Government to  take the  delivery of  foodgrains stocks from Fei godowns.
- > Regular inspection to check the quality of foodgrains is to be carried out by the officers of State Government.
- >  it is the responsibility of the concerned State Government/UT Administration to  ensure that  during transportation and storage at different stages in the distribution chain, the foodgrains retain the
- required quality specifications.
- > The State Government, where the decentralized procurement is  in operation, should ensure that  the quality  of foodgrains issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes should meet the desired standards
- under the Food Safety and Standards Authority  of India (FSSAI).

(c) and (d): Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products are being carried out by the machinery of Food Safety Departments of  the  respective States/UTs to  check compliance of the standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made there  under. In cases, where the food samples are found to  be non-conforming, penal action  is  initiated against the defaulting  Food Business Operators as per provisions of FBS Act,  Rules and Regulations made there under.

(e) and (f): Under TPDS, every State Government is required to put in place an internal  grievance redressal mechanism which may include call centres, help lines, designation of  nodal officersl or  such other mechanism as  may  be  prescribed. Whenever any  complaints  are received in this  Department from any source, they are forwarded to the concerned State/UT Governments for inquiry and appropriate action  at their  end8

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