Lok Sabha Question No. 434 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Distribution of Foodgrains through PDS System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

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

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.434 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24th JULY, 2024

## DISTRIBUTION  OF FOODGRAINS THROUGH PDS SYSTEM

## 434 SHRINK  PREMACHANDRAN:

Will  the Minister of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION W+nT qm8, um  air  VTaxfM f87vr +it  be pleased  to state :

- (a) whether the Government proposes to  ensure the distribution of  foodgrains through Public Distribution  System (PDS) without obstruction;

- (b) if  so, the details of action taken thereon;

- (c) the details regarding the action taken on the disruption of supply of food grains through Publrc Distribution  System in Kerala;

- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the remuneration  to the ration retailers in Kerala;

- (e) if  so, the details of action taken thereon;

- (f) whether it  comes to the notice of the Government that supply of foodgrains in Kerala was disrupted on account of the agitation of  ration dealers in Kerala;  and

- (g) if  so, the details of  action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOOD & PUBLIC DisTRiBurioN

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA}

- (a) &  (b): The Govemment  ensures the  distribution of foodgrains  through Public Distribution  System (PDS) without obstruction

To  improve the efficiency &  transparency of  the distribution of  foodgrains system, under the  technology driven  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  ofChandigarh  and Puducheny which  have adopted DBT  Cash Transfer scheme) and supply chain has been computerized in  31 States/UTs.  So far, nearly 5.41 Lakh  out of total  5.43 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country (including the State of  Kerala) have been automated by installing  ePoS devices for  seamless distribution of foodgrains in a transparent manner (electronically) through biometric/ Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries

(c): As per the NFSA  Act 2013, the responsibility for distributing foodgrains and ensuring a robust distribution  system lies with  the concerned State Government

(d) &  (e): Central  Government has no role to play  in  determining  the actual rate of  fair price shop dealers' margin/ commission/ honorarium etc. The Central Government only provides the assistance  to States/UTs for meeting the expenditure towards intra-State movement &  handling of  foodgrains and fair  price shop dealers' margin under the NFS A  in accordance  with the  provisions of  Food  Security ( Assistance  to  State  Governments) Rules, 2015 which  inter-alia provides for  norms of expenditure and pattern of  central sharing. In  order to  ensure viability of  Fair  Price  Shops, the  norms  of  FPS Dealers  margin  was enhanced w.e.f. April  2022 as per the details given  below:

| Category of States           | Component of FPS margin   |   IPre-revised (Rate in rupee uintal) | normJRevised norms ped(Rate in rupee pe luintal)   |
|------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| CategoryF General States/UTs | ransportation& handling   |                                    65 | 70                                                 |
| CategoryF General States/UTs |                           |                                    70 | C                                                  |
| CategoryF General States/UTs | Additional margin         |                                    17 | 21                                                 |
| CategoryF General States/UTs | 'ransportation & handling |                                   100 | 105                                                |
| Special category Sates/UTS   | F                         |                                   143 | 180                                                |
| Special category Sates/UTS   | Additional margin         |                                    17 | 26                                                 |

.....3/-

State Governments are free to fix  the actual rates, which  can be higher than the norms specified in the rules. Central assistance will  be limited  to the rates specified in the Rules or the actual average  rates for the State as a whole, at which  the expenditure was actually  Incurred by the State Government, whichever is lower

At present, no proposal for further enhancement  of margin is under consideration by the Government

(D &  (g): No  complaint regarding disruption of supply offoodgrains  in Kerala on account of the agitation of ration dealers has been reported

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