(a) whether a recent study by the Planning Commission has indicated that only 42% of the foodgrains distributed under the Public Distribution System reach the targeted people and the rest is diverted/pilfered;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the study has also identified some States where the aforesaid percentage is lower than the national average; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken in this regard?
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) to (d): As per the Programme Evaluation Organization (PEO) of Planning Commission’s Report on Performance Evaluation of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), submitted in March, 2005, about 42% of the subsidized foodgrains reached the targeted BPL beneficiaries. A
statement showing the percentage of leakages/ diversions of foodgrains and the distribution
of foodgrains to targeted beneficiaries as per this report, is at Annex – I.
The study shows that in Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil
Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the percentage of distribution of foodgrains to BPL families was
lower than 42%.
The PEO pointed out that the implementation of TPDS suffers due to targeting errors,
prevalence of ghost cards and unidentified households and siphoning off of foodgrains from
the supply chain.
To improve functioning of TPDS, Government has been regularly requesting State/UT
Governments for:
(i) continuous review of lists of BPL and AAY families and ensuring timely availability
of foodgrains at fair price shops;
(ii) ensuring greater transparency in functioning of TPDS;
(iii) improved monitoring and vigilance at various levels; and
(iv) introduction of new technologies such as Computerization of TPDS operations at various
levels, smart-card-based delivery of essential commodities.