Question : ALLOCATION OF FOODGRAINS

(a): the manner in which the expenditure incurred in the implementation of the Public Distribution System/Targeted Public Distribution System/Antyodya Anna Yojana is shared between the Union and the State Governments;

(b): whether the Union Government has assessed/directed the States to assess the additional requirement of foodgrains for distribution among the poor particularly in view of the proposed National Food Security Act;

(c): if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(d): whether the Union Government proposes to make any increase in the existing quota or make additional allocation of foodgrains for families living above the poverty line; and

(e): if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO. 262 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 13.12.2011 IN THE LOK SABHA

(a)to(e): The Central Government incurs expenditure on procurement of food grains, its storage, transportation upto the designated depots in the States/ Union Territories (UTs) and other incidental costs, while expenditure on dealer’s commission, transportation of the allocated food grains from designated depots and its distribution within the States is borne by the States/UTs. The State Governments/ UT Administrations are required to distribute the allocated food grains to AAY families at the AAY Central Issue Prices without any additional charges.In the case of BPL and APL families, States/UTs have been given flexibility to fix the end retail prices taking into account dealer’s commission, transportation charges, etc.

The requirement of food grains for the priority households under the proposed National Food Security Act (NFSA) as assessed by the Central Government is 41.1 million tons against the present allocation of 27.7 million tons for BPL families. Accordingly, the additional requirement of food grains for distribution among the poor under the proposed NFSA will be around 13.4 million tons.
Monthly allocations of food grains for Above Poverty Line (APL) families have been increased in June 2011 to 15 kg per family per month in 20 States/UTs and to 35 kg in North Eastern States of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya, Sikkim and hilly States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. State-wise details of monthly allocations upto May 2011 and from June 2011 are given in the Annex.