(a) the total quantity of food stocks stored by Food Corporation of India as on date in metric tones;
(b) whether these food procurements were acquired as per the Minimum Support Price (MSP);
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) the total quantity of food grains released under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY); and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to prevent illegal sale of food grains released under PDS scheme?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)
(a): The total stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool as on 01.02.2021 was 561.93 lakh tons consisting of 318.31 lakh tons of wheat and 243.62 lakh tons of rice.
(b) & (c): The quantum of wheat and rice (Paddy in terms of rice) procured during 2020-21 is as under:
(Fig. in LMT)
KMS/RMS Rice Wheat
2020-21 447.73# 389.92
# KMS 2020-21 is under progress. Figures reported is as on 01.03.2021
…..2/-
-2-
The MSP for paddy and wheat fixed by Govt. of India for current year 2020-21 is as under:
(in Rs./qtl)
Year Wheat Paddy
Common Grade ‘A’
2020-21 1925 1868 1888
(d): During the COVID-19 pandemic year 2020-21 under Pradhan Mantri garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) (April- November,2020) the following was allocation of foodgrains:-
(In thousand tons)
Schemes Rice Wheat Total
Pradhan Mantri garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) (April- November,2020) 21408.081 10697.421 32105.502
(e): Under PDS reforms this Department had implemented a scheme on ''End-to-end Computerization of TPDS Operations'' to improve the efficiency & transparency of the distribution of foodgrains system and to address other challenges such as leakages and diversion of foodgrains, elimination of fake and bogus ration cards, etc. Under this scheme, ration cards/beneficiaries database have been completely digitized in all States/UTs, transparency portal and online grievance rederessal facility/Toll-free number have been implemented in all States/UTs, online allocation has been implemented in all States/UTs (except UTs of Chandigarh and Puducherry which have adopted DBT Cash Transfer scheme) and supply chain has been computerized in 31 States/UTs.
Besides above, the Automation of Fair Price Shops (FPS) is also being done in all States/UTs by installing electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices at the FPSs for the distribution of foodgrains in a transparent manner (electronically) and for unique identification of genuine beneficiaries through biometric/Aadhaar authentication on the ePoS device. At present, more than 92% of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) across the country have ePoS devices and facility for biometric identification of beneficiaries
***