(a) whether the Government has formulated any time bound scheme for direct transfer of food subsidy in cash to replace the distribution of foodgrains;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has undertaken a survey to evaluate the preference of consumers with respect to cash transfers and foodgrain distribution and if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
(d) whether there is a proposal to introduce food coupons and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) to (d): As per the ‘Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules, 2015’, which was notified on 21-08-2015, under the National Food Security Act, 2013, scheme of providing food subsidy in cash into the bank account of entitled households to enable them to purchase foodgrains from the open market, can be taken up in identified areas for which there is a written consent of the State Government/ UT Administration. This scheme is currently being implemented on a pilot basis in UTs of Chandigarh and Puducherry w.e.f. September 2015 with their consent.
As regards introduction of food coupons in TPDS, there is no such proposal with the Government of India.
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