Question : Diversion of Government Allotted Rice

(a) whether the Government is aware that rice allotted for the State of Meghalaya was diverted to a private ware house, if so, the action taken thereon;

(b) the quantity and amount of rice/wheat allotted for the Government of Meghalaya yearly for the last five years;

(c) the process and formula of calculations base for the allotment of rice and wheat to the State Government; and

(d) whether any enquiries are pending against any States regarding diversion of Rice and wheat for the last five years, if so, the details thereof?

A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a): Of-late a report had appeared in the media (The Shillong Times) titled “Mysterious and non-mysterious silence” alleging seizure of one lakh bags of rice weighing 50 kg each by the Assam Police from a private godown in Chhaygoan, Boko meant for Meghalaya Social Welfare Department under the Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP), and as per the State Govt. of Meghalaya this matter does not relate to the Public Distribution System (PDS).

(b): The Department allocates foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) to all States/UTs, including Meghalaya, for distribution under various schemes i.e. National Food Security Act (NFSA), NFSA-Tide Over, PM-Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY), Atma Nirbhar Bharat Scheme (ANBS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS). A statement showing scheme wise allotment during the last five years is enclosed at Annexure-I.

(c): Under NFSA, the foodgrains are allocated to States/UTs according to number of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and number of Priority Households (PHH) beneficiaries in the State/UT, basis the respective scale of issuance i.e. 35 Kg per AAY Household per month and 5 Kg per PHH beneficiary per month. Besides, some additional foodgrains as tide-over quota to some States for covering some additional population over and above NFSA coverage.
Further, for distribution of additional 5 Kg per person per month to all NFSA beneficiaries (over and above normal NFSA foodgrains) additional quota of foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) are allocated under separate PMGKAY scheme. And other scheme allocations as per the requirements of the State Govt.

(d): No sir.
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Annexure-I

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.311 FOR ANSWER ON 20.07.2021 IN THE LOK SABHA.

Allocation of rice and Wheat to Maghalya from 2016-17 to 2020-21 under TPDS,OWS and Aditional allocation(Flood, Festivals etc)

(In thousand tons)
Year Foodgrain
NFSA Tideover PMGKAY ANBP OWS Total
2016-17 Rice 129.603 27.308 13.558 170.469
Wheat 0.000 19.087 0.000 19.087
Total 129.603 46.395 13.558 189.556
2017-18 Rice 129.603 17.766 13.021 160.390
Wheat 0.000 28.630 0.000 28.630
Total 129.603 46.396 13.021 189.020
2018-19 Rice 136.096 15.348 12.991 164.435
Wheat 0.000 24.732 0.000 24.732
Total 136.096 40.080 12.991 189.167
2019-20 Rice 140.732 13.619 16.005 170.356
Wheat 0.000 21.947 0.000 21.947
Total 140.732 35.566 16.005 192.303
2020-21 Rice 140.732 13.619 85.821 2.146 28.450 270.768
Wheat 0.000 21.947 0.000 0.000 0.000 21.947
Total 140.732 35.566 85.821 2.146 28.450 292.715

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