(a) whether the attention of Government has been drawn to the news-item appearing in `Jansatta`, dated July 25, 2001 regarding the Antyodaya Yojana;
(b) the reasons for the failure of Antyodaya Yojana; and
(c) the steps being taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government to make Antyodaya Yojana a success?
THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SHANTA KUMAR )
(a),(b)&(c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a),(b)&(c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 380 DUE
FOR ANSWER ON 17-08-2001 IN THE LOK SABHA.
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b)&(c): It is not correct to say that the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) has failed.
No specific case where a Fair Price Shop (FPS) owner has sold the foodgrains meant for the AAY
at higher prices or retained the ration cards of Antyodaya families has been quoted in the news
item under reference.
The Public Distribution System (PDS) is the joint responsibility of the Central
Government and the State Governments. The Central Government is responsible for procurement,
storage and transportation of PDS items upto the designated godowns of the FCI. The
responsibility of distribution to consumers through the FPSs, issue of ration cards, opening of
FPSs and administration of the PDS rests with the State Governments.
The Central Government has advised the State Governments to involve the Panchayati Raj
Institutions (PRIs) in the supervision and monitoring of the PDS, especially at the FPS level,
as a measure of social audit. It is expected that the involvement of the PRIs at the grass
root level will make the system transparent and accountable.