Question : PRICES OF ITEMS UNDER PDS

(a) the percentage of people living below poverty line in different States, State-wise;

(b) whether the prices of foodgrains and other essential commodities available at Fair Price Shops for people living Above Poverty Line are approximately equal to the price in the open market;

(c) if so, whether the Government has taken or proposes to take steps to reduce the prices of foodgrains, sugar, kerosene etc. for the families living below as well as above the poverty line under the Public Distribution System; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a): For allocations of foodgrains to States and Union Territories (UTs) under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Department of Food and Public Distribution uses the number of BPL families based on 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning Commission and population estimates of the Registrar General of India as on 01st March, 2000. This number of BPL families is 6.52 crore, which include 2.43 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families.

The State-wise details of poverty estimates of Planning Commission as per above estimates are at Annex-I.

(b)to(d): The Central Issue Prices (CIP) of wheat and rice under TPDS are given below:

(Rs. Per Kg.)
APL	BPL	AAY
Wheat	Rice	Wheat	Rice	Wheat	Rice	(Gr.A)	(Com/Gr.A)	(Com/Gr.A)
6.10	8.30	4.15	5.65	2.00	3.00