(a) whether the Government has taken note of the scheme of Mobile Ration Shops for supply of essential commodities at the doorstep of the beneficiaries including tribals being implemented in some States;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has urged the other States to adopt the said scheme; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the States thereto?
MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) to (d): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/Union Territory (UT) Governments wherein operational responsibilities for allocation of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards to them and supervision over and monitoring of functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) rest with the concerned State/UT Governments.
Under the guidelines issued by the Department for strengthening of PDS, States/UTs are to ensure that no consumer/card holder has to travel more than 3 kms to reach his FPS. As per the guidelines, in areas which cannot be covered by static fair price shops, mobile vans may be introduced to cover the consumers residing in hilly remote, far-flung, desert, tribal and inaccessible areas. The guidelines include provision of sales centre at weekly Haats to provide essential commodities at fixed prices in some rural areas, particularly in Tribal Areas which will be a great boon to consumers of these areas.
The Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2015 notified on 20.03.2015 requires the State Government to ensure that the FPS is so located that the consumer or ration card holder does not have to face difficulty to reach the FPS and that proper coverage is ensured in hilly, desert, tribal and such other areas difficult to access.
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