Lok Sabha Question No. 5141 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Supply of Millets under PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Thiru D M Kathir Anand

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5141

TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND APRIL, 2025

## SUPPLY OF MILLETS UNDER PDS

## 5141. THIRU D M KATFIIR ANAND:

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

- (a) whether the Government plans to procure and supply the nutritious Millets  under the Public Distribution  System throughout the country;
- (b) if  so, the details thereof and the amount spent during the last three years for  the procurement and supply ofMillets by the Government;
- (c) the mechanisms in place to monitor  and evaluate the scheme's effectiveness in  reducing malnutrition,  anaemia and diabetes among people;
- (d) whether any other alternate foodgrains have been considered for addressing malnutrition and anaemia, especially promoting diverse, locally-available nutritious foods in the country; and
- (e) if  so, the details thereoF

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a): Procurement of  millets  is  regulated by  guidelines for  allocation, distribution, and disposal of coarse grains (Jowar, Bajra, Maize  &  Ragi etc.) and 6 minor  millets  procured by the States/FCI. Under these guidelines, States are allowed to procure these commodities in Decentralized Procurement mode from farmers at  Minimum Support Price (MSP) for distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)/Other Welfare Schemes (OWS)

+

- (b): Food subsidy released for procurement and supply ofmillets during last 3 years and current year:
- (c): This  Department engaged Monitoring Institutions  (MIs) to  undertake concurrent evaluation of  the implementation of National Food Security Act,  2013 (NFS A)  in  different States/UTs for Phase-1 (2018-20)  and Phase-I1(2020-23).
- (d) & (e): To  combat anaemia and other micronutrient deficiencies, the Government of India is supplying fortified rice through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and in Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) in  all States and Union Territories (UTs). The initiative aims to provide fortified rice enriched with  essential micronutrients such as iron, folic  aci$ and vitamin B 12, to tackle micronutrient  deficiencies, particularly anaemia.

|                            | Food subsidy released (Rupees in crores)   |
|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 2021 -22                   | 1682.12                                    |
| 2022-23                    | 1724.94                                    |
| 2023-24                    | 1198.77                                    |
| 2024-25 (as on 24.03.2025) | T629.40                                    |

The initiative  was scaled up in a phased manner. and by March 2024, all Custom-milled rice has been replaced with  fortified  rice  in every scheme of the Government.  In October 2024, the  Cabinet approved the  continuation of  this  initiative  as Central Sector Initiative  (fully funded by the Government) up to December 2028.

88888