Lok Sabha Question No. 640 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: PDS Shops Vellore Region
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Thiru D M Kathir Anand

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 640

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 3RD DECEMBER, 2025

## PDS SHOPS VELLORE REGION

## 640.  THIRU DMKATHIR ANAND:

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to  state:

- (a) the details of functioning  of  Public Distribution  System  (PDS) shops in Vellore,  Anaikattu, K. V.  Kuppam, Gudiyattam, Vaniyambadi and Amt)ur;
- (b) whether farmers in these constituencies  benefit from  MSP procurement and if  so, the details thereof
- (c) the details of  the steps taken by  the Government to  address complaints of  ration card misuse; and
- (d) the timeline  for upgrading PDS infrastructure locally?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): The State Government of Tamil  Nadu has reported the details of the functioning  of  Public Distribution System  (PDS) shops (Agency-wise) in Vellore, Anaikattu, K. V. Kuppam, Gudiyattam, Vaniyambadi and Amt)ur  as on 27.11.2025 as per the Annexure.
- (b): A total of 699 farmers in Vellom district during Kharif N4arketing Season (KMS)  20242025 have benefited. Further, Amt)ur  and Vaniyambadi  fall  under the administrative jurisdiction ofTirupattur District,  where no Direct  Purchase Centers are currently  operational.
- (c): The  Government of  India  has undertaken a series of  systemic and technology-driven reforms to  prevent and address misuse of  ration  cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The major steps include:
1. Digitisation  of  the  Ration  Card  and  Beneficiary  database of  all  80  crore  beneficiaries leading to the elimination of manual records  and ensuring improved transparency. Aadhaar seeding has been completed for  more than 99.8% of  ration  cards (at least one member) and about 99.2'% of individual  beneficiaries at the national level.
2. To curb diversion and ensure accurate delivery, about 99.6% (5.41 lakh out of 5.43 lakh) FPSs are equipped with  operational  ePoS devices, allowing Aadhaar-based authentication. 98.5% (100% in Tamil Nadu) of foodgrain distribution  is now Aadhaar authenticated.
3.  Strengthened Grievance Redressal: All States/UTs have  functional  online  grievance redressal systems, dedicated  1967/1800-series toll-free helplines,  and transparency portals for reporting and monitoring complaints related to misuse.

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4. e-KYC of Beneficiaries: To reconcile Aadhaar data with  ration card details and curb fake/duplicate entries, an e-KYC process was initiated in May 2023. So far 85.6% of beneficiaries  have completed e-KYC(89.10% in  Tamil Nadu). To expedite completion, beneficiaries can complete e-KYC  from any FPS across the country.
2. Centralised Mapper Report Mechanism: To  ensure accurate monthly  distribution  and prevent misuse or  over-drawing of entitlements, the Department has developed a centralized mapping system that integrates NFS A  ration card data with  ePoS transaction data from all  States/UTs and validates beneficiary  identity  and monthly  entitlements. 5.

(d): To enhance the internal and external ambience  of  Fair Price Shops in Vellore,  the State has undertaken a  phased modernisation programme. Under Phase-1, 3139 Fair  Price  Shops were modernised. For Phase-II, a target of  5000 shops was set, of  which  4514 have been modernised, and the remaining 486 shops have been carried forward to the Phase-III target.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the State has also focused  on quality  and service standards. 11,029 Fair  Price  Shops have  obtained  ISO  9001  certification for  quality  management and maintenance practices, and 2059 Fair  Price Shops have obtained ISO  28000 certification relating to safe food chain and storage  systems.

SeeSeRSeSc

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## Annexure

## ANNEX REFERRED TO  IN  REPLY TO  PART  (a) of the  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  640 DUE  FOR  ANSWER ON  03.12.2025

The details of functioning of PDS shops (Agency-wise) in Vellore, Anaikattu, K.V.Kuppam, Gudiyattam, Vaniyambadi and Ambur as on 27.11.2025 is tabulated below:

| : 1:   |                 |               | TNCSC   | TNCSC       | TNCSC     | Cooperative   | Cooperative   | Cooperative   | SHG   | SHG         | SHG     | Other Co-operatives   | Other Co-operatives   | Other Co-operatives   | Total   | Total      | Total   |
|--------|-----------------|---------------|---------|-------------|-----------|---------------|---------------|---------------|-------|-------------|---------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|---------|------------|---------|
| : 1:   | D i S t r i C t | T a 1U k      | 1: i    | q) B . i hH | a IPa a b | 1B :          | a) B .i hh    | a + a b       | 1B :  | a) g . i hH | a + Q A | 1!! !                 | aa g . i hh           | a + 0 A               | 1g:     | a) g .i hH | a + 0 b |
| I      | Ve11ore         | Anaikattu     | 0       | 0           | 0         | 21            | 108           | 129           | 0     | 1           | 1       | 0                     | 0                     | 0                     | 21      | 109        | 130     |
| 2      | Vellore         | Gudiyattam    | 0       | 2           | 2         | 53            | 90            | 143           | 0     | 0           | 0       | 0                     | 0                     | 0                     | 53      | 92         | 145     |
| 3      | Vellore         | K.V Kuppam    | 0       | 0           | 0         | 8             | 64            | 72            | 0     | 0           | 0       | 0                     | 0                     | 0                     | 8       | 64         | 72      |
| 4      | Vellore         | Vellore       | 0       | 27          | 27        | 33            | 105           | 138           | 0     |             | 1       | 0                     | 0                     | 0                     | 33      | 133        | 166     |
| 5      | Tirupattur      | Amt)ur        | 0       | 1           | I         | 24            | 85            | 109           | 0     | 0           | 0       | 0                     | 0                     | 0                     | 24      | 86         | 110     |
| 6      | Tirupattur      | Vaniyam bad i | 0       | 2           | 2         | 26            | 70            | 96            | 0     |             |         | 0                     | 0                     | 0                     | 26      | 73         | 99      |