Question : BENEFICIARIES UNDER PDS AAY OWS

(a) whether the Government has assessed the number of beneficiaries and the requirement of foodgrains under the Public Distribution System (PDS)/Targetted Public Distribution System (TPDS)/Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)/Other Welfare Scheme (OWS) based on the 2011 census;

(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof indicating the number of beneficiaries and the foodgrains requirement under the present criteria and the revised estimates as per the 2011 census along with the allocation and offtake of various items during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether the procurement and stock of foodgrains is adequate to meet the demands under PDS and OWS;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the steps taken to ensure adequate supply of the said commodities to the States for distribution along with the quantum of foodgrains imported to meet the demand during the said period; and

(e) the steps taken to strengthen PDS and ensure food to the targeted beneficiaries?

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

(a) and (b): For allocation of foodgrains (rice and wheat) to States and Union Territories (UTs) under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Department of Food and Public Distribution uses the number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families based on 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning Commission and the population estimates of Registrar General of India as on 1st March, 2000 or the number of such families actually identified and ration cards issued to them by States/UT Governments, whichever is less. As per these estimates, the number of BPL families is 6.52 crore, which includes 2.43 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families.

State/UT-wise statements showing the quantities of foodgrains (rice & wheat) required under TPDS and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) that were allocated by the Government and their offtake during 2009-10 to 2012-13 are at Annex I, II & III.

Government has introduced National Food Security Bill (NFSB), 2011 in the Lok Sabha on 22.12.2011. The Bill provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for subsidized foodgrains under TPDS. As per the provisions of the Bill and using 2011 Census population, the number of priority and general category persons to be covered under TPDS is estimated at about 81.34 crore and corresponding requirement of foodgrains is estimated at 52.74 million tons. For OWS, an additional about 8 million tons of foodgrains are estimated to be required as per provisions of NFSB.

(c) and (d): As on 30.4.2013, Government has procured 200.63 lakh tons of wheat during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2013-14 & 307.70 lakh tons of rice during Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2012-13. The stock position of foodgrains (rice and wheat) in the Central Pool as on 1.4.2013 is 596.75 lakh tons, which is sufficient to meet the present requirements for TPDS and OWS allocations. In view of the comfortable stock position of foodgrains (rice & wheat) in Central Pool, there is no proposal to import these commodities at present.

(e): Strengthening and streamlining of TPDS is a continuous process. Government has regularly reviewed and has issued instructions to States/UTs to strengthen functioning of TPDS by improving monitoring mechanism and vigilance, increased transparency in functioning of TPDS, adoption of revised Model Citizen’s Charter, use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and improving the viability of Fair Price Shop operations.