THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI ASHOK PRADHAN )
(a) The stock of rice, wheat and coarsegrains available in Central Pool as on 31st December,
2001 is indicated below:-
(In lakh tonnes)
Rice Wheat Coarsegrains Total
256.17 324.15 0.80 581.12
(b) The stocks of rice, wheat and coarsegrains available in the Central Pool is sufficient
to meet the demands for 2002-2003 Financial Year.
(c) Does not arise.
(d) The steps taken by the Government for utilization of stocks of foodgrains are given in
the Annex.
ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 163 DUE FOR ANSWER
ON 01.03.2002 IN THE LOK SABHA.
STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA TO UTILISE STOCKS OF FOODGRAINS
i) The allocation of foodgrains for Below the Poverty Line (BPL) families was revised
w.e.f 1.12.2000 on the basis of population projections of the Registrar General as on 1.3.2000.
As a result, the number of BPL families eligible for subsidised foodgrains has increased from
5.96 crores families to 6.52 crore families.
ii) The entitlement for BPL families was raised from 10 kg. per family per month to 20 kg.
per family per month from April 2000, and further to 25 kg. per family per month from July 2001.
iii) The Central Issue Price (CIP) of wheat and rice was reduced as under with effect from
12.7.2001, which will be valid till 31.3.2002:
(Rs. per quintal)
BPL APL
Wheat 415 610
Rice 565 830
iv) The Antyodaya Anna Yojana was announced on 25.12.2000 for the one crore poorest of the
poor BPL families. The scheme is now under implementation in all States/UTs. Each of the
Antyodaya families is given 25 kg. of foodgrains @ Rs. 2 per kg. for wheat and Rs. 3 per kg.
for rice.
v) Foodgrains are made available at BPL rates for allotment to State Governments @ 5 kg.
per head per month for covering categories of indigent people living in welfare institutions,
such as beggar homes, orphanages/Nari Niketans, etc. sponsored by the State Governments and the
concerned administrative Ministry of the Government of India.
vi) Foodgrains at CIP applicable for BPL families are being allocated for all the welfare
schemes including SC/ST/OBC hostels scheme, implemented by the various Ministries of the
Government of India.
vii) Foodgrains are being allocated at BPL rates for development schemes (where the
beneficiaries belong to the BPL category) implemented by NGOs, sponsored by the State Governments
and endorsed by the administrative Ministry in the Government of India, as also by international
organizations like the World Food Programme.
viii) Government has allocated 38.33 lakh MTs of foodgrains, free of cost, from January 2001
to 12.2.2002 for undertaking Food for Work programmes in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan.
Besides, Government had allocated one lakh MTs of foodgrains for distribution in the
earthquake-affected areas of Gujarat in January 2001.
ix) Government of India has decided to give additional allocation of foodgrains at BPL rates
to the drought affected States for distribution to all the drought affected families (BPL & APL)
@ 20 kg per family per month for a period of three months in the current financial year. The
Govts. of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan
have already been allocated additional foodgrains. The Govt. of Bihar has been given additional
allocation of 1.80 lakh MTs of wheat at BPL rate for flood relief.
x) In November 2000, it was decided to permit FCI to make wheat available from the Central
Pool for the purpose of export. A quantity of 42.96 lakh tonnes of wheat has been exported so
far. With effect from the current financial year i.e. 2001-2002, FCI has also been making
available rice for the purpose of export. The quantity lifted so far is 14.03 lakh tonnes.
xi) The Ministry of Rural Development has launched the Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana
(SGRY) on 25th September 2001 based on the announcement made by the Prime Minister on 15th August
2001. Under the programme, it is envisaged to utilize 50 lakh MTs of foodgrains every year. The
allocation of foodgrains under SGRY upto 13.2.2002 has been 26.41 lakh MTs.
xii) The Open Market Sale Scheme of wheat was continued during the current financial year
2001-2002. The quantity sold from April 2001 to 15.2.2002 was 37.87 lakh tonnes.
