Question : FOODGRAIN STOCK

(a) whether the country has surplus foodgrain stock;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Union Government have decided to provide free foodgrains to implement Mid-day meal Scheme in Government Schools;

(d) if so, whether the Karnataka Government has sought free foodgrains to its Mid-Day Meal Scheme

(e) if so, the quantity of free foodgrains sought for by the State Government; and

(f) the number of Students likely to be benefited by this scheme in the State?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SUBHASH MAHARIA )

(a)&(b) : The stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool as on 1.1.2003 is 482.02 lakh tonnes, which is above the buffer norms.

(c),(d),(e)&(f) : Under the NP-NSPE (popularly known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme), the Central Government provides foodgrains free of cost to all States. 56.22 lakh children are covered under the scheme during 2002-03 in Karnataka.