(a) whether the Government proposes to stop the supply of rationed items through the Public Distribution System to the income tax payers across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether any objection to the said move have been received from the States; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE)
(a) to (b): There is no proposal under consideration of the Government to stop the supply of foodgrains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) to the income taxpayers across the country.
Government of India has notified the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) on 10.09.2013, under which State Governments/ UT Administrations are required to evolve the criteria for identification of priority households and conduct their actual identification, within the coverage determined for each State/ UT, for receiving subsidised foodgrains under TPDS.
During a Conference of Ministers of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution of States/UTs, held on 04.07.2014 to inter alia review the implementation of NFSA, it was suggested that though the criteria for identification of households is to be evolved by States/UTs, while identifying the eligible households they should ensure that Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe households are included, except those in Government service, public sector undertakings or autonomous institutions or income tax payees.