Lok Sabha Question No. 2730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Quality of Foodgrains distributed under PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNNIF.Mr OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTNnNr OF FOOD AND PUBLIC  DISTRiBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2730 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7TH AUGUST, 2024

## QUALITY OF FOODGRAINS DISTRIBUTED UNDER PDS

## f2730 SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION aBrtuT gma, ©r© B&lwT+qf# f8aWT +it be pleased to state

- (a) whether the  Government has any detailed report regarding the  quality of  foodgrains being distributed under the Public  Distribution  System (PDS);
- (b) if  so, the details thereof,  State-wise;
- (c) whether the  Government has taken concrete steps to ensure the quality of  foodgrains being distributed under the PDS and the foodgrains being utilized for the purpose of  middaymeal;
- (d) if  so, the details thereof;  and
- (e) if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUNnR  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTR[BUTtON

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) & (b): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is  operated under the joint responsibility of  the  Central  and the  State/UT Governments, Central Govelnment is responsible for  procurement, allocation  and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India  (FCI). The operational responsibilities for intra-state allocation and distribution of  foodgrains within  the States/UTs, identification of  eIIgible beneficiaries, issuance of  ration  cards, supervision and monitoring  of  the Fair  Price  Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with  the concerned State/UT Governments. Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of  food products including  foodgrains are being carried out by the officials  of  Food  Safety Departments of the respective States/UTs to  check compIIance of  the provisions laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act  2006 and the Rules and Regulations made there under.

(c)  to  (e): Yes. The Govemment has issued following instructions to State Govemments/UTs and Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ensure the supply of  good quality foodgrains under PDS and other welfare  schemes (OWS)

- a) Only good quality foodgrains, free from insect infestation and conforming to Food Safety Standards are to be issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes
- b) The State Government/UT Administration  has to  inspect the stocks prior to the lifting  of the same from the FCI godowns.
- C) Samples of  foodgrains are to  be  collected from  foodgrains stocks to  be  issued under TPDS jointly  by the FCI  and the State Government/UT  Administration  in sealed packets
- d) An officer  not below  the rank of  Inspector is to be deputed from  the State Government to take delivery offoodgrains stocks from FCI godowns
- e) It  is responsibility  of the concerned State Govemment/UT Administration to ensure that during  transportation and  storage at different  stages in  the  distributIon  chaIn, the foodgrains retain the required quality specifications
- f) 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 standards under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives)  Regulations, 2011 as amended from time to time.

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