Lok Sabha Question No. 131 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-21
Subject: Exclusion from NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE, KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 131

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  JULY, 2015

## EXCLUSION FROM NFSA

## 131.  SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE:

## SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

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 details of the criteria laid down  for  inclusion/exclusion of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) along with the manner  in  which  the  bonafides  of  the  beneficiaries  are  ascertained  and authenticated;
- (b) whether the Government has made any estimation regarding requirement of additional storage capacity for implementation of the Act;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  and  the  outcome  thereof  along  with  the  remedial steps taken in this regard;
- (d) the extent to which prices are likely to be altered in the international market as a result of excess procurement to implement this Act;
- (e) the details of the action plan formulated and the steps taken thereon by the agencies to ensure appropriate and effective implementation of the Act; and (f) the way in which this scheme is likely to improve the nutrition level  among  the  people  particularly  the  children  and  women  in  the country?

## 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) to (d): The annual requirement of foodgrains for implementation of the NFSA is estimated at 614.4 lakh tons. A total storage capacity of 754.26 lakh tons is 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  (2009-10  to  2013-14)  was  about  618.55  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  alteration  in international market is foreseen as a result of implementation of the Act.

(e): 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 their  status  of  preparedness  for  implementation  of  the  Act  and  to  urge them  to  implement  the  Act  at  the  earliest.  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.

(f): The Act provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto  50%  of  the  urban  population  for  receiving  foodgrains  at  subsidised prices under TPDS, thus covering about two thirds of the population of the country. Besides, there is a special focus in the Act on nutritional support to  pregnant  women  and  lactating  mothers  and  children  upto  14  years  of age. With these provisions, the Act is likely to ensure food and nutritional security to a large population of the country including women and children.

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