Lok Sabha Question No. 146 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Inclusion of Millets and Seafood in PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.146

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 13TH DECEMBER, 2023

## INCLUSION OF MILLETS AND SEAFOOD IN PDS

## *146.  SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DiSTRiBUTiON aqqtuT qm+, @m at  IIT#ifRq fqvwr THt be pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry has plans to diversify the offerings under the PDS to include more nutrientdense options like millets and seafood;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor
- (c) whether  the  Government is taking  measures to  address the costeffectiveness and consumer preferences under the scheme;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of grains distributed under the scheme, State and yearwise?

ANSWER INISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRYI CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND TEXTILES (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (e):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS (a) TO  (e) OF  THE STARRED QUESTION NO. 146  DUE FOR ANSWER ON 13.12.2023  IN THE LOK SABHA.

- (a)  &  (b): Under  Pradhan Mantri Garib  Kalyan  Anna  Yojana  (PMGKAY), foodgrains, free of cost, are being provided to States/UTs for distribution to  around 80 crore beneficiaries through Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). The term  'foodgrains'  is defined as rice, wheat  or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time. In addition to this, the State/UT Governme'nts may formulate food or nutrition  based plans or  schernes providing for  benefits  higher than the  benefits provided  under  PMGKAY.

Coarse grains/Millets are also allocated under PDS in lieu of equal quantity of wheat/rice  (as requested by State) while ensuring that the overall quantity of rice, wheat and Coarse grains has to  be within the upper ceiling fixed in respect of each State/UT.

Further, as per Guidelines for  proGurernent, allocation,  distribution and disposal of  coarse grains, States are allowed to  procure Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Barley & Ragi and six minor millets  from farmers at MSP for central pool subject to  the  prior approval of Government of  India, in consultation with FCI,  The whole quantity is distributed under  TPDS /OWS (Other welfare  Schemes) in the State/UT.

- (c) & (d): The PMIGKAY was launched with, the specific purpose of ameliorating the hardships faced by.the poor and needy due to economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.  In view of COVID crisis, the allocation of free foodgrains, under PMGKAY was in addition to regular allocation  done. A total  quantity  of approx. 1118 LMT foodgrains had been allocated  under PMGKAY (Phase I-VII) for the period of 28 months (i.e. between  April,  2020 to  December, 2022) with  a total planned financial outlay was about Rs. 3.91 lakh crore,

The Central Government, in order to  remove the financial  burden of the poor beneficiaries  and to ensure nationwide uniformity  and effective implementation of the programrne for support of the poor, had decided to provide food grains free of cost to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority  Households (PHH) beneficiaries,  beginning from 1 st January  2023 under  the  PMGKAY.

Keeping in view welfare of the beneficiaries of PMGKAY in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability of food grains for the poor and to  maintain uniformity across the States, the  Government has decided to continue to provide free food grains to about 81.35 crore  beneficiaries (i.e. Antyodaya Anna Yojana  (AAY) households and Priority  Households (PHH) beneficiaries) under the PMGKAY for a period of five  years with effect from Ist  January, 2024, with an estimated financial outlay of Rs.11.80 lakh crore totally  to be borne by Central Government.

(e): The details of State-wise grains distributed by States/UTs, under PDS, for 2022-23 and 2023-24 are placed at Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO  IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF STARRED QUESTION No. 146 FOR ANSWER ON 13.12.2023 IN THE LOK SABHA

## The details of State-wise foodgrains distributed  by States/UTs, under PDS, for 2022-23 and 2023-24

| State/UT                  | 2022-23 (in MT'   | 2023-24 }r-Oct'23   |
|---------------------------|-------------------|---------------------|
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 6,665.98          | 2,483.46            |
| Andhra Pradesh            | 2,202,376.42      | 1,014,246.95        |
| Arunachal Pradesh         | 84,830.01         | 29,668.91           |
| Assam                     | 2,716,330.53      | 699,033.05          |
| Bihar                     | 8,496,219.19      | 0                   |
| @ndigarh                  | 12,314.73         |                     |
| Chhattisga rh             | 2,216,046.66      | 782,086.23          |
| Daman& DiuD&NN            | 27,273.48         | 9,659.93            |
| Delhi                     | 733,711.10        | 237,116.07          |
| Goa                       | 51,520.94         | 17,229.16           |
| Gujarat                   | 3,610,415.49      | 1,249,728.51        |
| Haryana                   | 1,266,939.58      | 447,744.23          |
| Himachal Pradesh          | 305,731.41        | 105,304.93          |
| Jammu And Kashmir         | 686,913.62        | 244, 649.49         |
| Jharkhand                 | 2,612,858.69      | 881,029.19          |
| Karnataka                 | 4,203,308.80      | 1,457,827.09        |
| Kerala                    | 1,619,891.32      | 570,051.07          |
| Ladakh                    | 13,289.55         | 4,594.18            |
| Lakshadweep               | 24,144.49         | 593.09              |
| Madhya Pradesh            | 4,471,644.15      | 1,852,249.94        |
| Maharashtra               | 5,438,248.26      | 2,367,896.74        |
| Manipur                   | 196,093.08        | 8,748.14            |
| Meghalaya                 | 749,176.04        | 76,095.52           |
| Mizoram                   | 63,745.76         | 26,749.28           |
| Nagaland                  | 321,287.40        | 42,268.72           |
| Odisha                    | 3,546,921.86      | 2                   |
| L y                       | 29,441.56         |                     |
| ML                        | 1,669,490.01      | 505,907.02          |
| Rajasthan                 | 4,026,617.47      | 1,524,494.62        |
| Sikkim                    | 71,344.12         | 11,207.98           |
| Tamil Nadu                | 5,468,233.35      | 1,360,987.76        |
| Telanga na                | 1,808,302.17      | 705,517.91          |
| Tripu ra                  | 1,190,607.21      | 93,486.66           |
| Uttar Pradesh             | 16,048, 118.79    | 5,512,459.31        |
| Uttarakhand               | 519,212.22        | 214,547.24          |
| West Bengal               | 5,415,229.63      | 2,245,682.44        |