(a) whether the Government has succeeded in supplying foodgrains in the remote villages of the country to tackle malnutrition and if so, the details thereof, area and village-wise; and
(b) the action taken by the Government to provide adequate balanced food supply in the remote villages?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a) & (b) : The Government of India has been providing food grains at highly subsidized prices to the targeted population through State Governments/Union Territory Administrations under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS). National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving foodgrains at highly subsidized prices of Rs. 3, 2 & 1 per Kg for rice, wheat & coarse grains respectively under Targeted Public Distribution System(TPDS), thus covering about two-third of the population. NFSA also has a special focus on nutritional support to women and children. Pregnant women & lactating mothers and children upto 14 years of age are entitled to meals, free of cost, as per nutritional standards prescribed in the Act. State Governments/Union Territory Administrations are responsible for lifting the allocated foodgrains and its distribution within the States/UTs and ensuring the allocated foodgrains reach the targeted beneficiaries. States/UTs are also responsible to put in place an effective mechanism to monitor the same, at the district and state level under NFSA, 2013.
During the year 2015-16, the Govt. of India allocated 611.10 lakh tons of foodgrains under TPDS/NFSA and OWS. During the current year 2016-17, the Govt. of India has so far allocated 627.99 lakh tons of foodgrains under TPDS/NFSA and OWS.
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