(a) whether the Government have reviewed/propose to review the Public Distribution System;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith outcome of the review;
(c) if not, the reasons therefore; and
(d) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to ensure complete success of
PDS in achieving its target?
THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SHANTA KUMAR )
(a),(b),(c) & (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a),(b),(c) & (d) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO. 284
FOR ANSWER IN THE LOK SABHA ON 11-8-2000.
(a), (b) & (c) : The working of the Public Distribution System is under constant
monitoring and review in Government just like all schemes, on the basis of inputs being
received from various quarters including State Governments.
(d) A series of measures have been taken by the Government for successful implementation
of the Public Distribution System in the country.
(i) From 1.4.2000, in order to better targetise and channelise the subsidy towards the
target population viz., the families living below the poverty line (BPL), the allocation of
foodgrains for them has been doubled from 10 kg. to 20 kg. per family per month at 50% of
Economic cost.
(ii) Allocation to families living above the poverty line (APL) has been maintained at the
same level as at the time of introduction of TPDS at economic cost.
(iii) Distribution of sugar under PDS has been discontinued to the Income-Tax assesses with
effect from 1.7.2000.
(iv) The States have been asked to formulate and implement foolproof arrangements for
delivery of PDS commodities to fair price shops and for its distribution in a transparent and
accountable manner.
(v) Based on the belief that truly democratic institutions do better safeguard food
security concerns of all than the State bureaucracy, the State Governments have been advised
to more substantially involve Gram Panchayats in supervision and monitoring of PDS especially
at FPS level as a measure of social audit.
(vi) The Model Citizens` Charter containing, inter-alia basic information of interest to the
consumers and a model procedure and time schedule for the services has been circulated to the
State Governments for adoption.
(vii) Senior officers of the Government of India in the Department of Food and Public
Distribution, also inspect the fair price shops from time to time in order to check the supply
and availability of PDS commodities at the FPS.
(viii) States are encouraged to include additional items of daily use for distribution under
PDS as per local priority in order to improve the viability of FPS as well as making quality
items available at affordable prices to the consumers.