Question : Diversion of Wheat in Madhya Pradesh

(a) whether the Agriculture Minister of Madhya Pradesh has recently stated in a closed-door meeting that 90 percent of the wheat procured for distribution in the State through the PDS system is diverted illegally and if so, the facts and details thereof;
(b) whether the Union Government has taken note of the statement made by the Agriculture Minister of Madhya Pradesh State Government in this regard;
(c) if so, the action taken by the Union Government to plug the leakage in the Public Distribution System in the State; and
(d) whether a central team will be sent to the State to assess the situation, if so, the details in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a) & (b): No such information has come to the notice of this Department.
(c): The Government has initiated a Plan Scheme on End-to-end Computerisation of Targeted Public Distribution System [TPDS] operations on cost sharing basis with States / UTs. The Scheme comprises of activities namely digitization of ration cards/beneficiaries and other databases, computerisation of supply-chain management, setting up of transparency portals and grievance redressal mechanisms and installation of e-PoS devices at Fair Price Shops and issuance of foodgrains through biometric authentication. 100% ration cards have been digitized and 100 % e-PoS devices are currently installed at Fair Price Shops in the State. Aadhaar Seeding with Ration Cards in the State is approximately 91%. Online allocation and supply-chain management is implemented in the State. Besides, Transparency Portal and online Grievance Redressal Mechanism / toll free helpline number has also been set up in the State.
(d): Question does not arise in view of the reply to part (a) & (b) of the question.
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