(a) whether foreign nationals and illegal migrants in the country are also beneficiaries
of the Public Distribution System;
(b) if so, the estimated number of such beneficiaries of PDS;
(c) whether the Government have laid down any policy or guidelines in this respect; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )
(a), (b), (c) & (d) : The operational responsibility for implementing the Public Distribution
System (PDS) rests with the State Governments/UT Administrations. Decisions regarding issue
of ration cards, eligibility criteria , renewal of ration cards , etc. are matters which fall
within the administrative jurisdiction of the State Governments/UTs. Ration cards are issued
by States/UTs to bona fide residents of the State/UT. Issue of Ration card is not meant to
confer any benefit other than access to the PDS. Illegal aliens residing in the country are
not issued ration cards. It is possible that some illegal immigrants might have managed to get
ration cards on the basis of false declaration in some of States. The State Governments have
been advised to issue ration cards after detailed verifications of the antecedents of the
individuals so that the benefit under PDS are not diverted into ineligible hands. Central
Government has also been advising the State Governments/UT Administrations to weed out bogus
ration cards.