(a) whether the Government has received any complaints regarding misappropriation of benefits meant for Below Poverty Line (BPL) category by the Above Poverty Line (APL) category;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the percentage of foodgrains lost therein, State-wise;
(c) the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to check such practice in future; and
(d) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government against those held responsible?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( DR. AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH )
(a), (b), (c) & (d): No complaints regarding misappropriation of benefits meant for Below Poverty Line (BPL) category by the Above Poverty Line (APL) category; has been received from any of the State Governments.
The Targetted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments wherein the Central Government is responsible for procurement of foodgrains, storage and their transportation upto the Principal Distribution Centres of FCI and the State Governments are responsible for identification of beneficiaries, issue of ration cards and distribution of foodgrains through a vast net work of more than 4.77 lakh Fair Price Shops scattered all over the country. In such a vast network chances of irregularities cannot be ruled out. However, whenever a complaint is received by the Central Government it is forwarded to the concerned State Government for investigations and necessary remedial action.
Under the TPDS, the supervision and monitoring the functioning of FPSs rests with the concerned State Governments/UTs.
The reform of the Public Distribution System to improve its efficiency, accountability and effectiveness is an ongoing process. Besides notification of the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001, involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, model citizen`s charter and deputation of task force teams to check irregularities and to inspect and monitor the TPDS and the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, Conferences of State Food Secretaries, State Food Ministers and a meeting with all the Members of Parliament was organized recently to discuss issues relating to strengthening of TPDS.