(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of poor quality of food grains being sold through Public Distribution System (PDS) and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes to transfer the subsidy directly in the accounts of the beneficiaries provided under PDS;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether any directions have been issued to the States in this regard; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/ Union Territory (UT) Governments. Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The operational responsibilities for intra-state allocation and distribution of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards and supervision and monitoring of the Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with the concerned State/UT Governments.
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Furthermore, Government has issued following instructions to State Government/UTs and FCI to ensure the supply of good quality foodgrains under PDS:
(i) Only good quality foodgrains free from insect infestation and conforming to Food Safety Standards are to be issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes (OWS).
(ii) Ample opportunities are to be provided to the State Government/UT Administration to inspect the stocks prior to lifting from FCI godowns. State/UTs may ensure that officers not below the rank of Inspector are deputed for inspection of the foodgrains before their lifting from FCI godowns.
(iii) Samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to be issued under the TPDS jointly by FCI and State Government/UT Administration.
(iv) An officer not below the rank of Inspector is to be deputed from State Government to take the delivery of foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
(v) Regular inspection to check the quality of foodgrains is to be carried out by the officers of State Government.
(vi) It is the responsibility of the concerned State Government/UT Administration to ensure that during transportation and storage at different stages in the distribution chain, the foodgrains retain the required quality specifications.
(vii) The State Government, where the decentralized procurement is in operation, should ensure that the quality of foodgrains issued under TPDS and OWS should meet the desired standards under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
(b) & (C): Government of India has notified “Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules, 2015” on 21.08.2015 under the National Food Security Act, 2013. These Rules inter alia provides that food subsidy can be transferred in cash directly into the bank accounts of entitled households giving them the flexibility to purchase the entitled quantity of foodgrains from the open market. The Cash Transfer Scheme can be taken up in identified areas, subject to fulfillment of certain conditions regarding preparedness to implement the scheme. Identified area is defined as State or UT or any specified area within the State or UT for which there is a written consent of the State Government for implementation of the Scheme. Thus, the scheme is optional for the States/UTs.
(d) & (e): Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules, 2015 was shared with all the States/UTs and is available in public domain. The scheme is optional for the States/UTs and at present, DBT-Cash Transfer Scheme is being implemented in Chandigarh, Puducherry from September 2015 and in urban areas of Dadra & Nagar Haveli from March 2016.
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