Question : ALLOCATION OF FOODGRAINS

(a) the details of the entitlement, regular and additional allocation and offtake of foodgrains and other items under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and other foodgrains based schemes during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) whether some States have requested the Government to increase the allocation or make additional allocation in view of shortage/lower production and natural calamities in the States;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(d) the mechanism put in place to ensure that foodgrains reach the intended beneficiaries?

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

(a): Under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Government of India makes allocation of foodgrains to States/Union Territories (UTs) @ 35 kg per family per month for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families / Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families. Allocations for Above Poverty Line (APL) families are made depending upon the availability of stocks of foodgrains in the Central Pool and past offtake by the States/UTs. Presently, these allocations range between 15 kg and 35 kg per family per month in different States/UTs. Details of State-wise allocation and offtake of foodgrains, sugar and kerosene during the last three years and the current year are at Annex-I to VI.

(b) & (c): During the current year, requests have been received from the Governments of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam and Meghalaya for additional allocation of foodgrains for drought/ flood relief. Government of India has made additional allocation of 4,37,700 tons of foodgrains to these States for drought/flood relief during the current year.

(d): TPDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/Union Territory (UT) Governments. Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains up to the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India. The operational responsibilities for allocation of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, issuance of ration cards to them and supervision over and monitoring of functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) rest with the concerned State/UT Governments.

A Nine Point Action Plan for curbing the leakages / diversion of foodgrains under TPDS was evolved in July, 2006 in consultation with the State/UT Governments. Government has been regularly monitoring the action being taken by States / UTs including advisories, holding conferences etc. wherein State / UT Governments are requested to implement the Nine Point Action Plan.

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.