Lok Sabha Question No. 126 (STARRED), answered on 2016-05-03
Subject: Quality of Foodgrains under PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA, C.S. PUTTARAJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 126

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 RD   MAY, 2016

## QUALITY OF FOODGRAINS UNDER PDS

*126. SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

SHRI C.S. PUTTA RAJU:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether some States have declined to lift their quota of foodgrains due  to  substandard  quality  of  allocated  foodgrains  under  the  Public Distribution System (PDS);
- (b)   if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  response  of  the  Government thereto; and
- (c)   whether  the  Government  proposes  to  review  and  reform  the present  system  of  supply  of  foodgrains  and  ensure  supply  of  good quality  foodgrains  to  Below  Poverty  Line  (BPL)  families  and  if  so,  the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

- (a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO 126 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 03.05.2016 IN THE LOK SABHA

- (a) & (b) There is no report of any State having declined to lift their quota of  foodgrains  due  to  substandard  quality  of  allocated  foodgrains  under Public Distribution System.
- (c) Government has issued detailed instructions to all State Governments/UTs  and  FCI  from  time  to  time,  to  ensure  good  quality foodgrains are issued from FCI godowns  to State Governments  for distribution under PDS, which are as under:
- (i) Only good quality foodgrains free from insect infestation and conforming to Food Safety Standards are to be issued under PDS.
- (ii) Ample opportunities  are  to  be  provided  to  the  State  Government  to check the quality of foodgrains prior lifting of foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
- (iii) Samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of  foodgrains  to  be  issued  under  the  PDS  jointly  by  FCI  and  State Governments/UT Administrations.
- (iv) An officer not below the rank of Inspector is to be deputed from State Government  to  take  the  delivery of foodgrain stocks  from  FCI godowns.
- (v) Regular inspection to check the quality of foodgrains is to be carried out by the officers of State Government.
- (vi) It  is  the  responsibility  of  the  concerned  State  Governments/  UT Administrations  to  ensure  that  during  transportation  and  storage  at different  stages  in  the  distribution  chain,  the  foodgrains  retain  the required quality specifications.
- (vii) The State Government, where decentralized procurement system is in operation, should ensure that the quality of foodgrains issued under PDS and other  welfare  schemes  should  meet  the  desired  standards prescribed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

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