Question : WHEAT FOR CUSTOM MILLING

(a) whether some States have been permitted to continue the scheme of custom milling of Above Poverty Line wheat into flour for distribution under Public Distribution System;

(a) if so, the details thereof indicating the names of such States;

(c) whether the allocation of wheat to Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (KSCSE) for custom milling has been stopped;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether a fresh proposal from KSCSC for allocation of wheat for milling has been received; and

(f) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (DR. AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH)

(a) & (b): Government has allowed the conversion of a portion of TPDS wheat into atta for distribution to ration cardholders through fair price shops in the N.E. and Hilly States and distribution of fortified atta in other States subject to certain terms and conditions vide guidelines issued on 21.12.2005. So far permission for implementing the scheme has been given to the States of H.P., Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling District) and Andhra Pradesh.

(c), (d), (e) & (f): A scheme for custom milling of TPDS wheat into atta by States/UTs being implemented earlier was discontinued by the Government of India w.e.f. 11.12.1997 due to difficulties in monitoring the scheme. The State Government of Kerala has recently requested for continuation of the earlier scheme.