Lok Sabha Question No. 2686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-02
Subject: BPL Beneficiaries
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: ANWHAR RAAJHAA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2686 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 ND  AUGUST, 2016

## BPL BENEFICIARIES

2686. SHRI A. ANWHAR RAAJHAA:

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 increase the number of beneficiaries  under  PDS/TPDS/NFSA,  eliminate  Ghost  cards  and  check diversion of foodgrains for APL families and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (b) whether  there  is  any  fixed  procedure  prescribed  for  payment  by dealers  and release of foodgrains by Food Corporation of India and State Food Corporations;
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  bring  policy  and  procedural reforms in TPDS to improve availability of foodgrains and offtake by States; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  to  remove  procedural delay between payment and release of foodgrains?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a):  The  National  Food  Security  Act,  2013  (NFSA)  has  been  notified  which provides for all India coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population of the country for receiving highly subsidized foodgrains.  Corresponding  to  above  coverage,  State/UT-wise  coverage  for receiving highly subsidized foodgrains was determined by the then Planning Commission.  Total  81,34,91,135  number  of    beneficiaries  under  NFSA/ Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) are to be identified by respective State/UT Governments and State/UT wise number of beneficiaries  are fixed.

Under End to End Computerisation Programme, all State/UT Governments interalia have been requested to digitize the data of beneficiaries  and  to      review  the  lists  of  beneficiaries  for  the  purpose  of deletion  of  ineligible  families  and  inclusion  of  eligible  families. As  per  the information reported by State/UTs Government upto 15.07.2016, approximately  2.16  crore  number  of  de-duplicated/ghost/ineligible/forged/ fake  etc.  ration  cards  have  been  deleted  by  the  State/UT  Governments during the  years  2013  to 2016.

Under the said Programme, following steps have also  been initiated to bring transparency in distribution of foodgrains and to check its  diversion :

1. Online allocation
2. Supply Chain Management
3. Application of IT tools for functioning of PDS.
4. Online/Toll free Grievance Redressal Mechanism

25 States have started implementing  Online allocation system, 15 States have  started  supply  chain  management  module  and    all  State/UTs  have started Online/Toll free Grievance Redressal Mechanism   System.

- (b) to (c) :  On  the  basis  of  allocation  Orders issued by  Deptt. of Food & Public Distribution, Food Corporation of India[FCI] issues foodgrains [Wheat/Rice/Coarse  grains]  from  FCI  Depots  to  State  Government  and Government  Departments.  After  making  advance  payment  to  FCI,  State Government  lifts  foodgrains  from    FCI  Depots    and  ensures  delivery  of Foodgrains  at  Fair  Price  Shop  through  their  agencies  for  distribution  to beneficiaries.  The  procedure  for  payment  by  dealers  is  laid  down  by  the State/UTs and further allocation orders within the State/UTs are issued by the respective State/UT  Governments.
- (d) to (e) In order to ensure timely availability of foodgrains,   Government of India has been issuing orders for allocation of foodgrains under TPDS/NFSA in advance and has directed the State/UT Governments to lift the foodgrains before the allocation month.  Besides, Advisories are issued from time to time  to  State/UT  Governments  to  lift  the  foodgrain  from  FCI  Depots  well within time limit to improve the offtake of the same so that the same can be made available for distribution to beneficiaries under TPDS.

Under End-to-End Computerization Programme, Online allocation system, Supply Chain Management  module  and  Grievance Redressal Mechanism   have to be  implemented by all the  State/UT Governments to remove procedural delay between payment and release of foodgrains. This will ensure transparency as anyone can check the status of allocation for delivery of foodgrains upto FPS.

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