Lok Sabha Question No. 1499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-26
Subject: Upgradation of PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: CHANDU LAL SAHU, JANARDAN MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1499

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JULY, 2016

## UPGRADATION OF PDS

1499. SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU: SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the  objectives  of  the  Shanta  Kumar  Committee  constituted  by  the Government;
- (b) the  steps  taken  for  reforms  and  technological  upgradation  of  the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Food Corporation of India (FCI) based on the recommendations of the Committee; and
- (c) the steps taken to improve the quality check of foodgrains procured by FCI and distributed under PDS?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

A N S W E R (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

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- (a)  Govt.  of  India  vide  order  dated  20.8.2014  constituted  a  High  Level Committee (HLC)  under  the  chairmanship  of  Shri  Shanta  Kumar,  Hon'ble MP  (Lok  Sabha)  to  recommend  on  restructuring  of  Food  Corporation  of India (FCI).

The terms of reference of the HLC are as under:

- (i) To examine the present day administrative, functional and financial  structure  of  FCI  and  modus  operandi  of  its  various operations.
- (ii) To study various models of restructuring or unbundling of and to suggest a best suited model for restructuring or unbundling of FCI to improve its operational efficiently and financial management.
- (iii) To  suggest  measures  for  overall  improvement  in  management  of foodgrains by FCI.

- (iv) To define or give suggestions to reorient the role and functions of FCI  in  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  operations,  storage  and distribution of foodgrains and food security systems of the country.
- (v) To  suggest  a  way  forward  for  strengthening  and  integration  of supply chain of foodgrains in the country.
- (vi) To suggest most efficient and cost effective model from the point of view of storage and least cost option of moving grains.
- (vii)
- To recommend scientific model of storage.
- (viii) To  recommend  rationalized  mode  of  moving  grains  including tracking of carriage.
- (ix) To suggest the upgradation of technology in management of food grains.

(b): The  steps  taken  for  reforms  and  technological  upgradation  of  the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Food Corporation of India (FCI) based on the recommendations of the Committee are as follows :-

1. Depot  Online  System  has  been  launched  and  is  operational  at  377 depots (including 30 Pilot Depots).
2. User  Credentials  for  494  depots  have  been  created  by  the  System Integrator (SI) and have been shared with the concerned Depots and District offices along with the link for accessing the application for login in.
3. Training  for  the  implementation  of  the  application  at  depots  other than Pre-Pilot & Pilot Depot have been conducted by SI, at 164 FCI District Offices, 25 FCI Regional Offices and 5 FCI Zonal Offices have
3. been completed.
5. 4.
6. Hardware has been delivered at 494 Depots and 117 District Offices.
5. E-mail gateway has been provided by NIC and SI has integrated the same with the application.
6. Digitization of Beneficiary Database for PDSEnable correct identification  of  beneficiaries;  removal  of  bogus  cards  and  better targeting of food subsidies.
7. Computerisation of Supply Chain Management - Timely availability of foodgrains to intended beneficiaries at FPS; check leakages/diversion.
8. Redressal Mechanism and Transparency Portal -Introduce transparency & public accountability in the implementation of TPDS.

(c):  The  Board  of  Directors  of  FCI  has  agreed  to  the  proposal  for upgradation of Institute of Food Security (IFS) Lab, Gurgaon, purchase of equipments,  National  Accreditation  Board  for  Testing  and  Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation and outsourcing of testing of chemical parameters to fulfill Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) requirements  till  the  up-gradation  of  IFS  lab  is  completed.    The  board further decided to upgrade all the Zonal Labs to equip those with testing of chemical parameters.

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