Lok Sabha Question No. 773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: Accessibility to PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 773 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  MARCH, 2016

## ACCESSIBILITY TO PDS

## 773.  SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

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 the Public Distribution System (PDS) is easily accessible to the people particularly in Bihar;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of persons belonging to the BPL category benefitted under the PDS during the last two years; and
- (d)  the  steps  being  taken  to  bring  reforms  in  functioning  of  the  PDS particularly in the remote and inaccessible areas?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

(a) to (c) :  Government of India has enacted the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) on 10.09.2013, which inter-alia provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50 % of the urban population of the country for receiving foodgrains at subsidized prices under Targeted Public  Distribution  System  (TPDS).    Under  the  Act,  the  coverage  under TPDS  has  been  delinked  from  poverty  estimates.    As  per  the  above coverage and based on 2011 census population, the number of persons eligible for subsidized foodgrains under TPDS in the country is estimated at  about  81.35  crore.    Based  on  the  preparedness  and  identification  of beneficiaries for coverage under the NFSA, reported by them, allocation of foodgrains to 28 States/UTs including Bihar have started under the Act. About 68 crore beneficiaries have been covered in these 28 States/UTs. The  number  of  beneficiaries  under  NFSA  in  Bihar  is  8.57  crore.  In remaining  8  States/UT,  foodgrains  allocation  under  excising  TPDS  is continuing

(d): TPDS is  operated  under  the  joint  responsibility  of  the  Central  and the State/UT Governments. Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated  depots  of  the  Food Corporation  of  India.  The  operational responsibilities  for  allocation  and distribution  of  foodgrains  within  the States/UTs,  identification  of  families, .issuance  of  ration  cards  to  them and  supervision  over  and  monitoring  of functioning  of  Fair  Price  Shops (FPSs) rest with the concerned State / UT Governments.

Strengthening and streamlining of TPDS is a continuous endeavour. To  improve  functioning  of  TPDS  and  to  curb  leakage  /  diversion  of foodgrains, Government has been regularly issuing advisories and holding meetings, conferences, etc. wherein State/UT Governments are requested for review of lists of beneficiaries, improving offtake of allocated foodgrains,  ensure  timely  availability  of  foodgrains  at  FPSs,  greater transparency in functioning of TPDS, improved monitoring and vigilance at various levels, improving the viability of FPS operations, etc.     The NFSA, 2013  also  contains  measures  for  reforms  in  TPDS,  to  be  under  taken progressively by the Central and State/UT Governments.  These reforms include  cash  transfer,  door-step  delivery  of  foodgrains  at  the  FPS, application of information and communication technology tools including end  to  end  computerization  preference  to  public    institutions/bodies  in licensing of FPS, etc.

The NFSA also provides that while implementing the provisions of this Act  and  the  schemes  for  meeting  specified  entitlements,  the  Central Government and the State Governments shall give  special  focus  to  the needs of the vulnerable groups, specially in remote areas and other areas which are difficult to access, hilly and tribal areas for ensuring their food security.

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