(a) whether the Government has reduced the allocation for the Above Poverty Line (APL) beneficiaries;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the quantity of foodgrains allocated, lifted
and distributed during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to increase the allocation for APL beneficiaries
in view of the increase in the prices; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a),(b) (c) & (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO.163 DUE FOR ANSWER
ON 09.03.2010 IN THE LOK SABHA.
(a) to (d): Allocations of foodgrains for Above Poverty Line (APL) category families under the Targeted
Public Distribution System (TPDS) are made depending upon the availability of stocks of foodgrains in
the Central Pool. Due to decreased availability of foodgrains in the Central Pool, allocations for APL
category to States/UTs were rationalized during 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 on the basis of past offtake.
However, based on availability of foodgrains in the Central Pool, additional allocations were subsequently
made during 2008-09 and 2009-10. During 2009-10, a total quantity of 199.94 lakh tons of foodgrains have
been allocated to States/UTs under APL category as against the allocation of 111.75 lakh tons of foodgrains
during 2008-09. Presently, these allocations range between 10 kg and 35 kg per family per month in different
States/UTs.
Considering the increase in food prices, Government has released 20 lakh tons of wheat and 10 lakh tons
of rice to various States/UTs under Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) for distribution to retail consumers.
A special adhoc additional allocation of 5.32 lakh tons of rice and 12.72 lakh tons of wheat @ 10 kg of
food grains per family per month in respect of all accepted number of families including APL families
in the country has also been made for January and February 2010.
The details of allocation and offtake of foodgrains (Rice and Wheat) for the
APL category for the last three years and the current year is as per Annex.