Lok Sabha Question No. 1367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-28
Subject: Coverage of NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, M. UDHAYAKUMAR, SUSHMITA DEV, SUDHEER GUPTA, ASADUDDIN OWAISI, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, C. N. JAYADEVAN, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1367

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  JULY, 2015

## COVERAGE OF NFSA

1367. DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

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 Government proposes to put a cap on the overall number of  people  eligible  for  cheap  grains  under  the  National  Food  Security  Act and to bring down the poorest category covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana with a view to recalibrate social security schemes and cut down subsidies;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether objections to the said decision of the Government have been raised from various quarters; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

## A N S W E R

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

(a) to (d): The  National  Food  Security  Act,  2013  (NFSA)  provides  for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population  at  the  all  India  level  to  receive  foodgrains  at  subsidised prices under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), corresponding to  which  State-wise  coverage  has  been  determined  by  the  Central Government. Eligible households for coverage under the Act comprise of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and priority households. There is no proposal to amend the coverage under the Act.

Government  has  notified the TPDS  (Control) Order, 2015  on 20.03.2015 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, in supersession of  PDS  (Control)  Order,  2001,  which  is  applicable  to  the  States/Union Territories (UTs) implementing NFSA. Some news articles have inter alia referred to certain provisions in the Control Order and alleged that AAY is being sought to be phased out.

The Control Order, however, merely provides that when  an Antyodaya household becomes ineligible on account of migration outside the State, improvement in social or economic status, death, etc., no new Antyodaya  household  shall  be  identified  in  that  State  and  the  total number of Antyodaya households shall be reduced to that extent.  The Control  Order  further provides  for  corresponding  increase  in  the coverage under priority category, for which the same subsidized prices of Rs. 2/3 per kg for wheat/rice are applicable. Foodgrain entitlements for the  priority  category  households  under  NFSA  are  on  per  person  basis, which is more equitable and fair.

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