Question : CONSUMPTION OF FOODGRAINS

CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Chitthan Shri N.S.V.
04-08-2009

(a) whether the quantity of foodgrains consumed by the BPL families is low in comparison to its availability in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor;

(c) the per capita consumption of foodgrains by Below Poverty Line and Above Poverty Line persons in the country, separately; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to bridge this gap?

Answer given by the minister

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

(a),(b),(c)&(d): Domestic Production and Projected Consumption Requirement of foodgrains (as per the Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation) during 2004-05 were as per the table below:

Year	Foodgrains (Million Tons)	Domestic	Projected Consumption	Production	Requirement Difference
2004-05	198.36 188.38 9.98

The details of the monthly per capita consumption of foodgrains (constituting cereals and pulses) by the people living below poverty line (BPL) in 2004-05, derived from NSS 61st Round consumer expenditure data, Report No. 508(61/1.0/1) are as follows:

Monthly per capita Consumption Rural Urban BPL	APL	BPL APL
Quantity (kg)	11.6	113.26	10.52 10.80

The comparatively lower consumption level in case of BPL families may be due to their lower affordability in purchasing food grains from sources other than TPDS.

The Central Government makes allocation of foodgrains for Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) families under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), @ 35 kg. per family per month, for 6.52 crore such families.

Government also allocates food grains to States & UTs under other welfare schemes targeting the BPL families. The Central Government, from time to time, issues directions to the State/ UT Governments to ensure proper distribution of the allocated food grains by streamlining working of TPDS.

Question : CONSUMPTION OF FOODGRAINS

Answer given by the minister

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