Question : ALLOCATION OF FOODGRAINS

(a) the details of schemes being implemented for providing foodgrains to the poor in the country;

(b) whether the foodgrains being allocated/released to the States are in accordance with their demand/entitlement;

(c) if so, the details thereof indicating the quantum of foodgrains allotted and lifted along with the subsidy paid during each of the last three years, State-wise and category-wise;

(d) if not, the reasons therefor and the corrective steps taken in this regard;

(e) whether the Government proposes to increase the allocation for Above Poverty Line beneficiaries; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a) to (f): Under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), allocation of foodgrains to States/Union Territories (UTs) is made on the basis of 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning Commission and March 2000 population estimates of Registrar General of India for all accepted number of 6.52 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, including 2.43 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families in the country @ 35 kg. per family per month. Allocations of foodgrains for Above Poverty Line (APL) families are made depending upon availability of foodgrain stocks in the Central Pool and past offtake by the States/UTs. Presently, these allocations range between 15 and 35 kg per family per month in different States/UTs.

Considering the availability of stocks in the Central Pool and requests received from the States/UTs, the Government has been making additional allocation of foodgrains over and above the normal allocation under TPDS to the APL/BPL (including AAY) families from time to time. State-wise and category-wise details of the allocation and offtake (including adhoc additional allocations) are at Annex-I & II.

Government also allocates foodgrains for Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) such as Annapurna Yojana, Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM), Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP), Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (Sabla), Emergency Feeding Programme, etc. State-wise details of allocation and offtake of foodgrains under OWS for last three years are at Annex-III.

State-wise details of the subsidy released to Food Corporation of India, Decentralised Procurement (DCP) States and for Various Welfare Schemes during last three years are at Annex-IV.