(a) whether the quality of foodgrains including sugar available under public distribution
system is of inferior quality;
(b) if so, the details in this regard;
(c) whether the Government propose to further strengthen its monitoring mechanism in coordination with State Governments to ensure that foodgrains including sugar available under PDS are of good quality; and
(d) if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )
(a) No Sir, Good quality foodgrains and sugar strictly conforming to the specifications laid
down by the Government of India are issued to the State Governments or their authorised
representatives for distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System(TPDS) through Fair
Price Shops(FPS).
(b) Does not arise.
(c) & (d) : The following steps have been taken by the Government to further strengthen
the monitoring of the quality of foodgrains available under PDS:
(i) Ample opportunities are provided to the officers / officials of the State Governments
to inspect the stock prior to issue from FCI godowns.
(ii) Instructions have been issued by this Department to all the State Governments that
an officer not below the rank of Inspector should be deputed to check the quality of foodgrains
before issue from the FCI godowns.
(iii) The samples of foodgrains are jointly drawn and sealed by the officers of the state
Government and FCI from the stock to be issued under TPDS for displaying at the counters of Fair
Price Shops for the benefit of consumers.
(iv) The officers of the State Governments` and the Ministry pay surprise checks of the
FPSs, to over see the quality of foodgrains being distributed through PDS.
(v) The officers of the Department designated as `Area Officers` for monitoring the TPDS
work in the respective States also undertake visits to the storage depots and the FPSs, during
their visit to the States to check the quality of foodgrains and sugar being issued.