MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY
OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (DR. AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH)
(a): During the last three years, allocations under Targeted Public Distribution System
(TPDS) have been revised as under:
(i) the allocation of wheat was rationalized from June, 2006 on the basis of the average
monthly offtake of previous three years for all the States/UTs. While for the BPL and AAY
families, the scale of 35 kg. of foodgrains per family per month has been retained, only the
inter se ratio of rice and wheat has changed. The allocation of wheat for the APL category
has been made more realistic linking it with offtake of earlier years;
(ii) the allocation of rice has been rationalized for the APL category w.e.f. April, 2007
on the basis of the offtake figures of earlier three years; and
(iii) keeping in view the requests received from the North Eastern States & Sikkim, with
special reference to their particular position, the Government has enhanced w.e.f. July, 2007,
the allocation of rice for the APL category by 1.5 times of their existing allocation, subject
to their entitlement.
The details of the Central issue price of foodgrains (Rice & wheat) distributed under
the Targetted Public Distribution System (TPDS), i.e. APL & BPL and other welfare schemes are
annexed.
(b)&(c): No fresh allocations of foodgrains for exports have been made since 11.08.2003.
After meeting the pending commitments of exports, sale of foodgrains for commercial exports
have been stopped from 01.10.2004 except as need based assistance on humanitarian grounds to
certain countries.
(d): The Government does not propose to introduce Universal Public Distribution System in
place of the existing Targeted Public Distribution System.
(e): Question does not arise in view of (d) above.
