Question : Supplying Suitable Rice

(a) whether the Government proposes to supply suitable rice for beneficiaries under PMGKY/MDMS;

(b) if so, the details of action taken thereon;

(c) whether the Government has assessed the difficulties in supply of rice to beneficiaries of PMGKY/ MDMS in Kerala due to the quality of rice;

(d) if so, the details of action taken thereon;

(e) the reasons for supplying Sonamasoori Rice to the beneficiaries of PMGKY/MDMS in Kerala;

(f) whether the Government has received requests from Government of Kerala stating the difficulties in implementation of programme by supplying Sonamasoori Rice to the beneficiaries of PMGKY/MDMS in Kerala;

(g) if so, the details of action taken thereon;

(h) whether the Government proposes to consider the request for supply of Surekha rice to Government of Kerala instead of Sonamasoori Rice as a part of PMGKY/ MDMS; and

(i) if so, the details of action taken thereon?

A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) and (b): Rice and Wheat of prescribed quality are distributed under PMGKAY/MDM schemes. A total of 456.14 LMT Rice have been allocated to States under five phases of PMGKAY.
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Under MDM scheme (now PM-POSHAN) which is administered by Department of School Education and Literacy, During 2021-22, a total quantity of around 24.02 LMT has been allocated to States/UTs, as on 31.10.2021.
(c) and (d): There is no difficulty in supply of rice to beneficiaries of PMGKY/MDM in Kerala due to the quality of Rice. Stocks conforming to Govt of India (GoI) specification are issued by Food Corporation of India (FCI) after proper verification and satisfaction of State Authorities and due procedure of joint sampling followed to issue the stocks under various schemes.

(e): Government of India allocates rice as ‘raw and parboiled’ having Common and grade A varieties on the basis of length width ratio. There is no specific variety to be issued other than these, by FCI.

(f) and (g): A letter of Govt. of Kerala addressed to GoI was received requesting supply of Jaya, Surekha variety of rice instead of Sona masuri rice. It is clarified that FCI procures rice only in two categories i.e Rice (Grade A) and Rice (Common).

(h) and (i): For Kerala food grains stocks are transported from surplus procuring States viz. Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab etc. for distribution.

FCI procures rice broadly in 2 grades i.e. Grade A and Common. All types of varieties grown in India are grouped into these 2 grades.
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