Lok Sabha Question No. 3817 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: APL Ration Cards in Maharashtra
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

UNSTARRF,D QUESTION NO.3817 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH DECEMBER, 2024

## APL RATION CARDS IN MAHARASHTRA

## 3817. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION 3nfr6T  wmA,  aT% Bat IT&flq 18awr Hit be  pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the current status of Above Poverty Line  (APL) ration  cards in  Maharashtra;
- (b) if  so, the details of the number  of APL  cardholders and the benefits provided  under the Public Distribution  System (PDS) in the State;
- (c) whether the Government intends to expand the  scope of APL  cards to  include more beneficiaries  in Maharashtra;
- (d) if  so, the details and timelines  for  such an expansion and if  not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the measures being taken by the Government to ensure transparency and accountability in the issuance and utilization of APL  cards in Maharashtra?

## 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 upto 75'% of  rural  population and upto  50(% of  urban population for  receiving free of  cost foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution  System (TPDS), which at Census 2011 comes to 81.35 crore. Under the Act, there are two categorieshouseholds covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)  which  constitute poor of the poor, to the extent specified by the Central Government and the remaining households as priority  households (PHH)  to be identified by the State Governments/UT Administrations  as per criteria evolved by them, within the coverage determined for the State/UT. There is no Above Poverty Line (APL) category under the Act.

The Act  provides for  coverage of  76.32% of  the rural and 45.34% of  the urban population of the Maharashtra, which  at Census 2011 comes to about 700.17 lakh persons. The state has identified  beneficiaries upto maximum permissible limit.

(c) &  (d): Section 9 of the Act  provides that the percentage coverage under the Targeted Public  Distribution System in  rural  and urban areas for  each State shall be determined by the Central Government and the total number of persons to be covered in the State shall be calculated on the basis of the population estimates as per the census of which the relevant figures have been published.

At  present, no proposal  for  enhancement of  coverage of  beneficiaries  under the Act  is under consideration of the Government.

(e): The Act provides for constitution  of Vigilance  Committees at the State, District,  Block and fair price shop levdls for ensuring transparency and proper functioning of  the Targeted Public Distribution System and acCountability  of the functionaries  in such system.

The Act  also 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.

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