Lok Sabha Question No. 2599 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Public Distribution System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Shri Dileshwar Kamait

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## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.2599 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 1 TH DECEMBER, 2024

## PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

2599. SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TAS A: SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION wrtnr wa, aTII M tIT+gfjq  fiawr  =Ht be pleased to  state:

- (a) the features  of the Public Distribution  System  (PDS) Scheme;
- (b) the details of funds sanctioned allocated and utilized  under this scheme within  Andhra Pradesh and Bihar during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) the details of  the target set and achievements  made so far under the schedule along with  its response within the country;
- (d) the details of items being provided through PDS across the country including the said States;
- (e) the details  of  the number  of beneficiaries  of this  scheme in these States;
- (f) whether the digital  system has helped in identifying the ineligible beneficiaries under this scheme; and
- (g) the details thereof along with  plans/efforts made to  reform PDS and storage sector and to improve its  efficiency and transparency in  operations in  the  country including timeline for implementation?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): The Targeted Public  Distribution System (TPDS)  is  implemented under the National Food Security Act  (NFS.A), 20 13 in  all  States/TJTs. The Act  provides coverage upto 75% of the rural population and upto  50(Y, of  the urban population for  receiving foodgrains (rice, wheat & coarsegrains). Under the Act eligible  families comprise of Priority  Households (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna  Yojana (AAY) households. The  Priority  Households are entitled to receive 5 kg  of  foodgrains per person per month and the households covered under the AAY receive 35 kg of foodgrains per month per family.  Under the TPDS, foodgrains were provided at subsidized prices upto December, 2022. However, w.e.f.  lst  January, 2023, foodgrains under the Act  are being distributed to eligible  beneficiaries free of  cost under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

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NFSA is operated  under the  joint responsibilities of the Central and  State/UT Governments. Central  Government is responsible for procurement, allocation  and transportation of  foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The operational responsibilities for  identification  of eligible  beneficiaries/families, issuance of ration  cards to  them, distribution  of  foodgrains to  eligible  beneficiaries and supervision and monitoring  of  functioning of  Fair  Price  Shops (FPSs), etc. rests with  the  concerned State/UT Government.

(b): The Government of  India  allocates subsidized foodgrains to  States/UTs for  monthly distribution to  all  NFSA  ration  card holders. The  details of  allocation and Offtake of foodgrains  to  Andhra  Pradesh and Bihar  during  the  last  three years  as well as current  year under Targeted Public Distribution are at Annexure A.

Further, the  details of  funds released  under  the  Centrally Sponsored  Scheme-4048'Assistance to State Agencies for intra-state movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers' margin under NFSA'  to the  State of Andhra  Pradesh &  Bihar  in the last two  years is as follows:

(Fig. in Rs. Crore)

| State        |      o |     |    |     |        |
|--------------|--------|-----|----|-----|--------|
| dhra Pradesh | 122.37 | n9  | 1  | .95 | 468.49 |
| Mar          | 743.27 | mb] | n4 | CBm |        |

(c): Allocation  of  foodgrains to  States/UTs under the NFSA,  2013 is made on the basis ol State/UT-vrise coverage of population determined by the then Planning Commission, identification of beneficiaries by  States/UTs within  the coverage and foodgrains entitlement prescribed under the Act. The Act  furTher provides that  if  on  the  above basis, annual foodgrains allocation to any State/UT is lower than the average annual offtake during 2010-11 to 2012-13 under erstwhile  normal Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the same shall be protected and the State shall be allocated foodgrains as specified in  Schedule IV.  As per Schedule-IV of the National Food Security Act,  2013, the States/UTs are entitled to 549.26 I,MT of  foodgrains per annum. Inclusion/exclusion  of  beneficiaries under the Act  is  a contrnuous process.

(d): Under NFSA, foodgrains are being provided to  States/UTs for  distribution 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 Governments may formulate food or nutrition  based plans or schemes providing  for benefits higher than the benefits provided under NFS A from their own resources.

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(e): At  present, against the total  intended  coverage of  81.35 crore,  80.67 crore persons are covered under PMGKAY.  The number of beneficiaries presently covered in the State of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are as follows:

(in Lakh)

| Name of the States   |   Intended Coverage | Present coverage   |
|----------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh       |              268.23 | 26n2               |
| Bihar                |              871.16 | 871.16             |

(f) to (g): As part of the technology driven Public Distribution System (PDS) reforms, ration cards/beneficiaries database have been completely digitized in all States/UTs. Transparency portal and online grievance  redressal facility/Toll-free number have been implemented in  all  States/UTs. Online  allocation  has been implemented in  all  States/UTs (except UTs of Chandigarh and Puducheny and urban areas of Dadra & Nagar Haveli which have adopted DBT  Cash Transfer scheme) and supply chain has been computerized in 31 States/Ul-s. So far, nearly 5.41 Lakh out of total 5.43 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country have been automated by installing  ePoS devices for the distribution  of foodgrains  in  a transparent manner (electronically) through biometric/ Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries.

Food Corporation of India has undertaken taken various initiatives to reform storage sector such as under:

- (i)  Construction of SILOs under Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode.
- (ii) Third party assessment of warehouses by FCI from Quality Council of India.
- (iii)  Mechanization  of Warehouse operations.
- (iv) Warehousing Development  Regulatory  Authority (WDRA) Certification of FCI warehouses .

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## ANNEXURE - A

## ANNEX  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b) OF THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2599 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 11.12.2024

(in  thousand tons)

| SL. NO   | STATE S/UTS    | 2021-22    | 2021-22   | 2022-23    | 2022-23           | 2023-24    | 2023-24   | 2024-25 (October)   | 2024-25 (October)   |
|----------|----------------|------------|-----------|------------|-------------------|------------|-----------|---------------------|---------------------|
|          | STATE S/UTS    | Allocation | Offtake   | Allocation | Offtake           | Allocation | Offtake   | Allocation          | Offtake             |
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh | 1871.844   | 1750.856  | 1871.844   | 1859.240          | 1871.844   | 1893.663  | 1091.909            | 1084.379            |
|          | Bihar          | 5527.100   | 4890.761  |            | 5527.100 5153.630 | 5527.100   | 4924.707  | 3224.142 2658.863   |                     |

Offtake  Source : FCI