Lok Sabha Question No. 246 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Strengthening of PDS in Maharashtra
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Smt. Supriya Sule, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMERAFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION  NO. 246

TO BE, ANSWERED  ON 6TH AUGUST.2O25

## STRENGTHENING OF PDS IN MAHARASHTRA

## *246.  PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD: SMT. SUPRIYA  SULE:

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

- (a):  the extent ol digitalization  and automation  undertaken to modemize and strengthen the delivery mechanisms  under the Public Distribution  System (PDS) in Maharashtra;
- (b):  whether all Fair Price Shops (FPSs)  in Maharashtra have been equipped with electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices and if so, the district-u'ise  status ol ePoS-enabled shops;
- (c):  the percentage of ration cardholders  in Maharashtra presently covered under Aadhaar- authenticated PDS transactions  and the steps taken by the Government to address exclusion  issues in remote  or tribal areas of the State;
- (d):  rvhether online tracking  systems have been implemented in Maharashtra  for the real-time  monitoring  of foodgrains  allocation, movement and delivery at the FPS level and if so, the outcomes  thereof;
- (e):  whether the Government has established  Grievance Redressal Portals or Mobile Apps for PDS consumers  in Maharashtra and if so, the number of complaints  received and resolved  through  these  systems; and
- (0: the steps taken by the Govemment  to ensure end-to-end transparency  and prevent diversion  or pilferage  of foodgrains?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  AND MINISTRY  OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (0:

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.  *246  DUE FOR ANSWER ON 06.08.2025 IN THE LOK SABHA REGARDING.

(a): The PDS operations  in the State  ol Maharashtra  are fully digitized under the end-to-end computerization  effort by the Govemment  of India in PDS. Currently,  NIC has developed a Common Application System to digitally manage PDS operations,  which includes key features such as digital RCMS,  distribution systems including biometric authentication via AePDS, and supply chain operations  and food allocation  systems  through Integrated  Aadhaar  enabled Supply Chain  Management  (lAeSCM).  Further, under the SMART  PDS scheme, the system applications and infrastructure  are being upgraded to overcome  State-level  technological limitations and institutionalize  a uniform system architecture and central system  covering  all PDS-related operations.

(b): Yes. e-PoS  devices  have been installed  at 52,848 Fair Price Shops  across the state of Maharashtra. The district-wise  report  is at Annexure.

(c): Currently  in the State, nearly 100% Ration cards have been seeded with Aadhar and 97.84%  of distribution  of food grains under the NFSA scheme  is through Aadhaar  authentication. Foodgrains  are being distributed  using offline modes in ePOS devices where network  issues  are present  in remote  tribal areas.

Further,  all StatesfuTs  have been advised that no genuine beneficiary/  household  shall be denied from receiving entitled  quota  of subsidized foodgrains  due to failure of biometric/  Aadhaar authentication  due to network/ connectivity/  linking related issues, other technical  reasons or poor biometrics  of the benefi ciary.

- (d): Yes, online tracking system  is partially  implemented. Food grain allocation is currently being generated  in real-time.  However,  the mechanism for real-time monitoring  is still under development.  To support  this, IAeSCM application which is part of overall SMART PDS system being enabled in the State which allows monitoring  of food grain movement  and delivery  at Fair Price Shops (FPS) in real time
- (e): Yes, an online grievance redressal  portal www.rcms.mahafood.gov has been developed for PDS beneficiaries in Maharashtra  to register complaints.  Further,  the Govemment of India has introduced  other  initiatives  for citizens to lodge grievances, such as the Mera Ration mobile app, the NFSA portal, and Anna Sahayata  (WhatsApp and IVRS). Beneficiaries can also submit their complaints  through the CPGRAMS  portal.During  the period  from April 2022 to July 2025. a total of 34,793 complaints  were received,  out olwhich  30,305 have been resolved.  Action is currently underway on the remaining  4,488 complaints.
- (f): As part of the technology  driven Targeted Public Distribution  System  (TPDS) reforms, with the aim to improve the transparency and accountability  in  the TPDS, ration cards/beneficiaries  database  have been completely  digitized  (100%) in all States/UTs. The transparency portal and online grievance redressal lacility/Toll-free  number have been irnplemented in all States/UTs. Also, online allocation  has been implemented in all States/UTs and supply chain has been computerized in 31 States/UTs (except UTs of Chandigarh, Puducheny and Urban area of Dadra & Nagar Haveli which have adopted DBT Cash Transfer scheme).  Further,99.7%o  ration cards are Aadhaar  seeded in the country. For better tracking  of foodgrains  distribution,  nearly  5.41 Lakh (99.6%) out of total 5.43 Lakh Fair Price Shops  (FPSs)

in the country have been automated by installing  ePoS devices for the distribution  of foodgrains in a transparent  manner  (electronically)  through biometric/ Aadhaar  authentication  of beneficiaries.

Helpline number 1967/1800-State  series number is operational in all the States/ UTs for contacting and redressal ol the complaints in Public Distribution System and filing any type of complaints by the intended  beneficiaries.  As and when complaints, including diversion  or pilferage of NFSA  foodgrains,  are received  in this Department  liom any source,  they are sent to State/ UT Governments concemed for inquiry and appropriate action.

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## District-wise  FPS details of Maharashtra

| sl. No   | District                  | Active FPS rvith e-PoS Devices   |
|----------|---------------------------|----------------------------------|
| I        | Ahmadnagar                | I 88-1                           |
| 1        | Akola                     | 106 I                            |
| 3        | Amravati                  | l9 t6                            |
| 4        | A Region Parel            | 554                              |
| 5        | Becd                      | 1917                             |
| 6        | Bhandara                  | 890                              |
| 7        | B u ldana                 | 1536                             |
| 8        | C hand ra pu r            | 1544                             |
| 9        | Chhatrapati Sambhaiinagar | 1818                             |
| l0       | Dharash iv                | t078                             |
| ll       | Dhule                     | 981                              |
| t2       | D Region Andheri          | 528                              |
| l3       | E Region Wadala           | l0t8                             |
| t4       | F Region Thane            | 145 8                            |
| l5       | Gadchiroli                | I 196                            |
| t6       | Gondia                    | 998                              |
| \1       | G Re.eion Kandivali       | 665                              |
| t8       | Hingoli                   | 197                              |
| l9       | Jalgaon                   | 1990                             |
| 20       | Jalna                     | 1280                             |
| 2t       | Kolhapur                  | 1688                             |
| 22       | Latur                     | l35l                             |
| .J       | Nagpur DSO                | l3l3                             |
| 24       | Nagpur Fdo                | 683                              |
| 25       | Nanded                    | 2000                             |
| 26       | Nandurbar                 | r 083                            |
| 27       | Nashik                    | 2608                             |
| 28       | Palghar                   | 1084                             |
| 29       | Parbhani                  | I 182                            |
| 30       | Pune Dso                  | 1859                             |
| 31       | Pune FDO                  | 690                              |
| 32       | Rai-gad                   | 1,r50                            |
| JJ       | Ratnagiri                 | 952                              |
| 34       | Sangli                    | 1370                             |
| 35       | Satara                    | 17 t6                            |
| 36       | Sindhudurg                | 461                              |
| 31       | Solapur DSO               | t557                             |
| 38       | Solapur FDO               | 314                              |
| 39       | Thane                     | 608                              |
| 40       | Wardha                    | 885                              |
| 4t       | Washirr                   | 775                              |
|          |                           | 52 848                           |
| Total    |                           |                                  |