Lok Sabha Question No. 297 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Requirement of Foodgrains for NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 297 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  DECEMBER, 2015

## REQUIREMENT OF FOODGRAINS FOR NFSA

## 297.  SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the criteria evolved for inclusion and actual identification of beneficiaries and the manner in which beneficiaries will be authenticated under the National Food Security Act (NFSA);
- (b) whether the Government has assessed the requirement of foodgrains and storage space for its implementation along with the extent to which increased procurement is likely to contribute to price distortions in the international market;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  and  the  outcome thereof along with the remedial steps taken in this regard; and
- (d) the details of the action plan formulated and the steps taken by the Government and other agencies to ensure proper and effective implementation of NFSA?

## A N S W E R

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

(a): As per the provisions of the National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA), identification  of  eligible  households  for  receiving  subsidized  foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is the responsibility of States/Union Territories (UTs). Eligible households comprise of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and priority households. The Act provides that identification of AAY households is to be done in accordance with the guidelines applicable to the said scheme and that of remaining households, i.e. priority households, in accordance with such guidelines as States/UTs may  specify.    AAY  is  an  ongoing  scheme  and  the  AAY  households  are already  identified  in  States/UTs.  For  identification  of  priority  households , complete responsibility for evolving the criteria and their actual identification is with the States/UTs.

(b) and (c):  The annual requirement of foodgrains for implementation of the NFSA  is  estimated  at  614.4  lakh  tons.  As  on  30.09.2015,  total  storage capacity of 792.48 lakh tons was available with Food Corporation of India and State agencies, which is sufficient for storage of foodgrains in Central Pool stocks.

The average annual procurement of wheat and rice during last five years (2010-11 to 2014-15) was about 630 lakh tons. At the current levels of production and procurement of foodgrains, the requirements under NFSA are  likely  to  be  met  domestically  and  no  price  distortion  in  international market is foreseen as a result of implementation of the Act.

(d): Main responsibility for implementation of the Act rests with States/UTs. Its implementation  is reviewed  on a regular basis and necessary advisories are issued to States/UTs, wherever required. Various meetings/ conferences have also been held with the States/UTs to review status of implementation of the Act. In order to ensure proper implementation  of  the  Act,  States/UTs  are  impressed  upon  to  ensure proper identification of beneficiaries through a transparent and participative process, delivery of foodgrains by designated State agencies upto the door-steps of fair price shops, availability of adequate scientific storage  facilities  at  various  levels,  end-to-end  computerisation  of  TPDS operations  and  setting  up  of  effective  grievance  redressal  mechanism, among others.

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