(a) whether the Government is providing foodgrains to destitute, blind and
other poor children at subsidised rates;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the quantum of foodgrains distributed during the last three years, State-wise;
(c) whether it is a fact that the scheme to provide foodgrains to such children at subsidised rates has been stopped; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) & (b) : The Government of India has been providing food grains at subsidized rates to the targeted population through State Governments/Union Territory Administrations under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) such as Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls, Annapurna etc. Government has enacted National Food Security Act (NFSA) which provides coverage of upto 75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas, thereby covering 2/3rd population of the country. Under the Act, foodgrains are allocated to the States/Union Territories (UTs) @ 5 kg per person per month belonging to priority category and 35 kg per family per month for AAY category at very low prices of Rs.1 per kg, Rs.2 per kg and Rs.3 per kg for coarse grains, wheat and rice respectively. The Act also has special focus on nutritional support to women and children upto 14 years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers who are entitled to meals as per nutritional norms. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are also entitiled to receive maternity benefit of not less than Rs.6000.” The States/UTs who have not implemented the NFSA so far are being allocated foodgrains under the existing Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) @ 35kg per family per month to the BPL [including AAY] families and @ 15-35kg per family per month to Above Poverty Line (APL) families.
The State-wise allocation/offtake of foodgrains under TPDS & OWS during the last three years and the current year is at Annexure-I.
(c): No Madam
(d): Does not arise in view of (c) above.
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