(a) whether the Government is providing nutritious food to all the people living below poverty line in the country;
(b) if so, the percentage of the total food available to women and children separately;
(c) whether the Government proposes to cover more people living below poverty line;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether any urban-rural imbalance exists in the availability of nutritious foodgrains;
(f) if so, the details thereof; and
(g) if so, the steps taken to remove this imbalance?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a): Yes, Sir. Central Government is allocating foodgrains (wheat & rice) to all the people living below poverty line (BPL) in the country on the basis of population projections of the Registrar General of India as on 1.3.2000 and poverty ratio determined by Planning Commission.
(b): 35 kg of foodgrains per month is provided for each BPL family irrespective of age and sex.
(c) & (d): The foodgrains is allocated for the BPL population as per Planning Commission`s estimates.
(e), (f) & (g): No, Sir.