Lok Sabha Question No. 5151 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Distribution of Foodgrains through Fair Price Shops
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Saumitra Khan

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5151

TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND APRIL, 2025

## DISTRIBUTION OF FOODGRAINS THROUGH FAIR PRICE SHOPS

## 5151. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:

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

- (a) the number of Fair Price Shops operating in  West Bengal;
- (b) the quantity of  subsidized foodgrains disTributed through these shops during the last year;
- (C) the measures taken to check the diversion of subsidized foodgrains to open market; and
- (d) the action taken against erring Fair Price Shop dealers?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a): As per information available in  this Departrnent, at present, 20.476 Fair  Price Shops (FPSs) in West Bengal are involved in the distribution of foodgrains.

(b): A  total quantity of  38.80 1.MT of  foodgrains have been distributed by Government of West Bengal during the last year i.e. 2024.

(c)  to  (d):  Targeted Public  Distribution  System (TPDS)  governed under National  Food Security Act,  2013 (NFSA)  is operated under the joint  responsibility  of the Central and the State/UT Governments. The operational responsibilities for  allocation of  foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of  eligible beneficiaries &  families, issuance of ration cards to them, distribution of  foodgrains to  eligible beneficiaries, supervision and monitoring of ftmctioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with the concerned State/ UT Governments.

Diversion of subsidized foodgrains to open market is an offence committed in violation of the provisions of TPDS (Control) Order.2015 which is  liable for penal action under the Essential Commodities Act,  1955. Thus, the Order empowers State/ t JT Governments to  take punitive action in case of contravention of the relevant provisions of these Orders. A  Statement showing results of action taken by the State Govemment West Bengal under relevant clause of the TPDS (Control) Order, 2015 is at Annexure.

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN  REPLY TO PART (c) &  (d) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5151 FOR ANS\VER ON 02.04.2025 IN THE LOK SABHA.

## Statement showing results of  action taken by  the  State Government of  West Bengal under  relevant  clauses of the TPDS  (Control) Order  2015 (as on 31.12.2024)

| Name of the State   | Year    | Number of Inspections   | 1Number of ! raids conducted   | Number of persons arrested/ prosecuted convicted   | Number of FPS Licenses suspended/ Cancelled/ Show cause notices issued/ FIR Lodged   |
|---------------------|---------|-------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| West Bengal         | 2015    | 7680                    | T2                             | &                                                  | 462                                                                                  |
| West Bengal         | 2016    | 19619                   | 233                            | 8                                                  | 41                                                                                   |
| West Bengal         | 2017    | 36 146                  | 655                            | 17                                                 | 184 1                                                                                |
| West Bengal         | 20-1 8  | 43127                   | -2057                          | 19                                                 | -2829                                                                                |
| West Bengal         | 2019    | 35378                   | 581                            | -15                                                | 2648                                                                                 |
| West Bengal         | 2020    | 42840                   | 222                            | 57                                                 | 3263                                                                                 |
| West Bengal         | 2021    | 28994                   | 756                            | 42                                                 | 4810                                                                                 |
| West Bengal         | 2022-23 | 29995                   | 98                             | 59                                                 | 3507                                                                                 |
| West Bengal         | 2023    | 18422                   | I 2393                         | 42                                                 | 806                                                                                  |
| Total               |         | 262201                  | + 6447                         | 251                                                | 20207                                                                                |

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