Question : ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF FOODGRAINS DUE TO DROUGHT



(a) whether the States which are affected by drought have demanded additional allocation of foodgrains;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and

(c) the steps taken to enhance allocation of foodgrains to those States during 2000-01?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) & (c) : Special additional allocations of fodgrains were given to the States for drought relief during the financial year 1999-2000 as under :-

1. Manipur : Special additional allocation of 1000 tonnes of rice per month was given at BPL rate, with the approval of Cabinet from June, 99 to October, 99.

2. Jammu & Kashmir : An additional allocation of 7789 tonnes of rice per month was given to Jammu & Kashmir at APL rate for drought relief from September, 99 to February, 2000.

3. Rajasthan : The Government of Rajasthan have demanded an additional allocation of 26,000 tonnes of wheat per month from February, 2000 to September, 2000 so as to enable them to distribute wheat to the drought affected BPL families @ 30 kg. per family per month at BPL rate in 26 drought affected districts of the State. Since the allocation of foodgrains for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families has been doubled from 10 kg. to 20 kg. per family per month from April, 2000, the request of the State Government has not been acceded to.