Lok Sabha Question No. 258 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Functioning of PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 258 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  DECEMBER, 2015

## FUNCTIONING OF PDS

## 258.  DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

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  functioning  of  Public  Distribution  System  (PDS)  was weakening year after year till the first quarter of 2014;
- (b) if  so,  the  efforts  made  by  the  present  Government  to  improve  the functioning of Public Distribution System (PDS) in terms of items supplied, price etc.; and
- (c) the details of items being distributed through PDS, State-wise?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

- (a) & (b): There have been some challenges such as leakages/diversion of foodgrains, inclusion/exclusion errors, existence of bogus/ineligible ration cards,  non-viability  of  fair  price  shop  operations,  etc.  that  weaken  the Public  Distribution  System.  Further,  Targeted  Public  Distribution  System (TPDS)  is  operated  under  the  joint  responsibility  of  the  Central  and  the State/UT  Governments  wherein  operational  responsibilities  for  allocation of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries, issuance  of  ration  cards  to  them  and  supervision  and  monitoring  of functioning  of  Fair  Price  Shops  (FPSs)  rest  with  the  concerned  State/UT Governments.

The Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001 dated 31.08.2001 notified in exercise of the powers conferred by the section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, mandates State/UT Governments to carry  out  all  required  action  to  ensure  smooth  functioning  of  TPDS.  The Order  has  since  been  superseded  by  the  TPDS(C)Order,  2015  dated 20.03.2015 issued in consonance with National Food Security Act(NFSA), 2013.

State/UT Governments have been directed in July 2006 to implement a  9-point  action  plan  for  streamlining  the  working  of  TPDS.    Further, strengthening  and  streamlining  of  TPDS  is  a  continuous  endeavour.  To improve  functioning  of  TPDS  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 plan scheme on 'End-to-end computerization of TPDS operations' approved  in  October,  2012,  comprises  activities,  namely-  digitization  of ration  card/  beneficiary  and  other  databases,  computerization  of  supply chain  management,  setting  up  of  transparency  portals  and  grievance redressal  mechanisms.    The      NFSA,  2013,  also  contains  measures  for reforms  in  TPDS,  to  be  undertaken  progressively  by  the  Central  and State/UT Governments. These reforms inter alia include door-step delivery of  foodgrains  at  the  FPS,  application  of  ICT  tools,  preference  to  public institutions/bodies in licensing of FPSs, etc.

(c):    Government allocates foodgrains (rice, wheat and coarse grains) and kerosene  to  all  States/UTs  for  distribution  through  the  FPS.  Government also  provides  subsidy  to  States/UTs  who  procure  and  distribute  Sugar under  the  PDS.      In  addition  to  above,  some  States/UTs  are  distributing other commodities like salt, edible oil, pulses etc. through the PDS outlets, details of which are at Annexure.

****

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c)  OF  THE  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 258  DUE FOR ANSWER ON 01.12.2015 IN THE LOK SABHA

Statement  indicating  commodities  distributed  by  State  Governments  in  addition  to wheat, rice, coarse-grain, sugar and kerosene through PDS outlets.

(as on 30.6.2015)

|   S.No. | State/UT         | Commodity                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|---------|------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Andhra Pradesh   | Iodized Salt, Red Gram Dal, Wheat Atta, Red Chilly Powder, Tamarind and Turmeric Powder.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|       2 | Assam            | Salt                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|       3 | Chattisgarh      | Amrit Iodized Salt, Chana and Dal.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|       4 | Gujarat          | Iodized Salt                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|       5 | Haryana          | Pulses (Chana Dal &Sabut Masur inter changeable)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|       6 | Himachal Pradesh | Moong Whole, Dal Urd, Dal Chana                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|       7 | Kerala           | Wheat Flour (Fortified)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|       8 | Madhya Pradesh   | Salt                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|       9 | Maharashtra      | Palm Oil                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|      10 | Punjab           | Pulses                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|      11 | Rajasthan        | Tea (CTC), Washing Soap, Free Flow Iodized Salt, Red Chilli Powder, Turmeric Powder, Coriander Powder and Green Moong Dal.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|      12 | Tamil Nadu       | Toor Dhall, Urad Dhall and Palmolein Oil                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|      13 | Telengana        | Redgram Dal, Wheat atta, Iodized salt, Red Chilli powder, Tamarind, Turmeric powder                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|      14 | Tripura          | Iodised Salt                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|      15 | West Bengal      | Mustard Oil, Biscuits, Toilet Soap, Laundry Soap, Detergent Powder, Haldi, Lanka, Dhania, Jeera, Papad, Exercise Book, Match Box, Incense Sticks, Phytofresh, Phytoclean, Black Phenyle, Comphora, Pynora, Naptholine, Bleaching powder, Easyklin, Liquid soap, Dish-Washing Bar, Tea (CTC) and Iodized Salt, Fountain pen ink (Royal Blue), D.F. Pen, H.Gum, Soft Eraser, Score Line pencil, Tooth Paste, |
|      16 | Daman &Diu       | Dal, Oil, Tooth-paste, match box etc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |