Lok Sabha Question No. 2044 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Food and Nutrition Insecurity
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Narayandas Ahirwar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2044

TO BE ANSWERED ON lITll  FEBRUARY, 2026

## FOOD AND NUTRITION INSECURITY

## 12044. SHRI NARAYANDAS AHIRWAR:

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

- (a): whether the Government is aware that a large number of families are facing good and nutrition insecurity due to  continous drought, limited livelihood resources and poverty in Bundelkhand region;
- (b): if so, the concrete steps taken by the Government during the last five years to provide food grains to poor and poorest of the poor families and to strengthen the distribution system through National Food Security Act,  2013, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana and the Public Distribution  System in the districts of  Bundelkhand region;
- (c): whether in  view  of  the  special circumstances of  said region the Government proposes to launch  targeted  and  area-specific  food and  nutrition security  programmes/campaigns for Bundelkhand to effectively control the problem of malnutrition; and
- (d): if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): There is no report from any State regarding food and nutritional insecurity in Bundelkhand regIon.
- (b): The Government is implementing  the  National  Food Security Act,  2013 (NFSA)  which aims to supplement the food requirements of upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population, which  at Census 2011  comes to  81.35 crore persons. The coverage of beneficiaries  is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable  and needy sections of the society get its benefit.  Under the Act, while Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)  households, which constitute poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg offoodgrains, per household per month, Priority Households (PHH) are dntitled to 5 kg of foodgrains  per person per month free of  cost.

As part of the technology driven Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) reforms with the aim to enhance transparency and efficiency  in the TPDS, ration cards/beneficiaries database have completely  digitized  ( 100%) in all States/UTs. The transparency portal and online grievance redressal facility/ Toll-  free  number  is available  in  all  States/UTs. Further, for  better tracking  of  foodgrains distribution, all  Fair Price Shops (FPSs) have been automated by installing ePoS devices for the distribution  of  foodgrains in  a  transparent  manner (electronically) through  biometric/Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries. Also, the Mera Ration App has been launched by the Department of Food and Public Distribution  (DFPD), which enhances transparency and accessibility in Public Distribution  System. It allows beneficiaries to log in using the Aadhaar number of the Head of the Family and view ration entitlements centrally.

In order to strengthen the PDS in Bundelkhand region, the State Government is undertaking eKYC= of beneficiaries  through biometric authentication, integration of ePoS devices with electronic weighing scales and implementation of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme.

(c)  &  (d): in  order to  improve the level  of  nutrition,  an advisory has also been issued to  all  the States/UTs  to procure  millets and  distribute them  to  beneficiaries as  per  local  consumption preferences  and as per guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time. IVlillets, which are commonly known as Nutri-Cereals, are already a part of Public Distribution  System (PDS).

From a nutritional  perspective,  in the Bundelkhand region, coarse grains Gowar, maize, and bajra) are also being distributed  free of cost, as per availability,  to beneficiaries of the Antyodaya  and Priority  Household schemes.

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