MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a),(b),(c),(d),(e)&(f): As per details relating to household consumption of various goods
contained in the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) Report No. 509, it is observed
that per capita consumption of cereals and pulses has declined between 1993-94 and 2004-05.
The quantity consumed in kg per capita in 30 days has been as follows:
YEAR RURAL URBAN CEREALS PULSES CEREALS PULSES
1993-94 13.4 0.76 10.6 0.86
2004-05 12.12 0.71 9.94 0.82
As revealed by these surveys, while per capita consumption of cereals is more in rural areas,
that of pulses is higher in urban areas.
The problem of malnutrition is a multi-dimensional and inter-generational in nature which needs
to be tackled through holistic coordinated interventions in areas of food security, sanitation,
safe drinking water, nutrition, family welfare and poverty alleviation. National Plan of
Action on Nutrition (NPAN) implemented by Ministry of Women and Child Development highlights a
systematic collaboration among National Government agencies, State Governments, NGOs, private
sector and the international community. NPAN is an affirmation of the Government’s commitment
to alleviate various forms of malnutrition and achieve an optimal state of nutrition for its
people.
To mitigate the problem of malnutrition among pre-school children, pregnant women and nursing
mothers, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is being implemented by
Ministry of Women and Child Development in which Supplementary Nutrition is a component.
Universalization of this scheme is being taken up with focus on SC/ST/Minority habitations and
revision of norms of supplemental nutrition. Nutritional Programme for Adolescent Girls
(NPAG) also focuses on providing nutritional supplement to adolescent girls by providing
foodgrains to them. Besides, Nutrition Education, Awareness and Counseling are being taken up
by that Ministry.
Government also allocates foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) for 6.52
crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) including Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families @ 35 kg. per
family per month. Allocation of foodgrains for Above Poverty Line (APL) families is also made
depending upon availability of foodgrains in the Central Pool. Under TPDS these foodgrains
are supplied at Central Issue Prices, which are highly subsidized and lower than the open
market prices.
Besides the above, Government allocates foodgrains under different other Welfare Schemes, which
include Annapurna Yojana, Mid-Day Meal Scheme and Village Grain Bank (VGB) scheme. These
schemes are intended to make available foodgrains to the targeted population to enable them
to improve their nutritional level.
