Lok Sabha Question No. 3878 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Identification for PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, DHARMENDRA YADAV, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3874 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND    DECEMBER, 2015

## COVERAGE OF NFSA

3874. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN: SHRI RAJESH RANJAN: SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

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  include  non-priority  members under  National  Food  Security  Act  (NFSA)  and  conduct  fresh  survey  for identification of beneficiaries thereunder, if so, the details thereof indicating the number  of  beneficiaries presently included under  the scheme and those issued new ration cards;
- (b) whether some States have requested for retention of pre NFSA quota, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide subsidised foodgrains to homeless beggars at Rs. two per kilogram to check hunger/starvation, if so, the details
- (d) whether  all  the  households  have  been  issued  the  new  ration  card with the NFSA stamp, if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the timeline by which all the households in all the States/UTs would be covered by NFSA?

## A N S W E R

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

(a): Under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), eligible households  comprise  of  Antyodaya  Anna  Yojana  (AAY)  households  and priority households. There is no proposal to include other categories under NFSA. The entitlement  under  the  Act  is  on  per  person  basis  for  persons belonging to priority households and on household basis for AAY households.  In  25  States/UTs  implementing  NFSA  about  1.55  crore  AAY households and 47.28 crore persons belonging to priority households are reported to have been identified by the States/Union Territories (UTs) and covered under the Act.

(b): It is provided in the Act that if annual allocation of foodgrains to any State under the Act is less than their average annual offtake under normal Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) for three years preceding the Act coming into force, the same shall be protected.

(c): There  is  no  proposal  to  include  homeless  beggars  as  a  separate category. However, the AAY, which is targeted at the poorest of the poor population, inter alia provides for coverage of landless agriculture labourers, slum dwellers, rag pickers, destitute among others. Under NFSA, AAY households are entitled to receive 35 Kg of foodgrains per household per month at the subsidized prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains. Besides, Government also allocates foodgrains to States Governments/UT  Administrations  for  welfare  institutions  such  as  beggar homes, nari niketan etc.

(d): As  reported  by  the  States/UTs  implementing  the  Act,  ration  cards under NFSA have incorporated provisions under the Act relating to per unit allocation and empowerment of women.

(e) The NFSA entitles upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the  urban  population  at  the  all  India  level  to  receive  foodgrains  at subsidized prices under TPDS, corresponding to which State-wise coverage has  been  determined  by  the  Central  Government.  Total  coverage  in  the country for receiving foodgrains at subsidized prices under NFSA is about 81.35  crore  persons.  The  Act  does  not  provide  for  coverage  of  all  the households in all the States/UTs.

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