(a) the details of various items being distributed through Public Distribution System (PDS) Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY);
(b) the allocation and off-take of various items during the last year and the current year, State-wise;
(c) whether the allocation is sufficient to meet the requirement of the States;
(d) if not, whether some States have requested the Government to enhance their quota; and
(e) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SHARAD PAWAR )
(a): At present the Central Government makes available wheat, rice, sugar & K. Oil under the Public Distribution System to the State/UTs for distribution through the Fair Price Shops (FPS).
(b): The details of allocation and offtake of rice and wheat under TPDS Annxure-I & II respectively for last year and the allocation for the current year for Rice & Wheat are at Annexure-III. Monthly Levy Sugar quota from 01.02.2001 State-wise at Annexure-IV and allocation of kerosene for Ist Quarter 2006-07 and for the year 2005-06 at Annexure-V.
(c): The allocation is sufficient to meet the requirement under TPDS for Wheat and Rice.
Since the levy percentage has been reduced to 10% of the domestic production, the availability of sugar for levy allocation varies depending upon the levels of domestic production. Therefore, it has not been possible to supply levy sugar as per the levy quota to each State/UT.
As per Policy adopted by the Government of India, the Kerosene allocation for distribution under Public Distribution System (PDS) to various States/UTs was reduced every year beginning 2001-02 and till 2004-05, taking into account the number of LPG connections released in each of the States/Union Territories.
(d)&(e): Some State Governments have requested to increase their allocation of wheat and rice under TPDS. The allocation could not be increased as the same is made at a uniform rate of 35 kgs. per family per month, under TPDS. However, additional allocations are made at OMSS (D) rates to the States who have made specific demands.
Levy Sugar Allocations are being made on the basis of projected population as on 01.03.2000, and the supply of levy sugar has been restricted to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, except for North Eastern States, Hill States and Island Territories where universal coverage is allowed.
Various requests received from State Government for increasing the allocation, the Government of India have commissioned the first ever detailed study of Kerosene demand in the country, through the National Council of Applies Economic Research (NCAER) in December, 2004 with a view to assessing the genuine demand and requirement of kerosene in the country. NCAER have submitted their report in October, 2005. NCAER in their report have estimated kerosene demand in 22 States and 1 UT for the year 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. For rationalization of allocation of kerosene based on the NCAER report, the views of the State Governments/Union Territories have been solicited. Till then, allocation for the first quarter 2006-07 is maintained at the level of the previous year 2005-06.