(a) whether the Government are aware of the growing black-marketing of subsidised foodgrains in some States;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the State-wise number of persons arrested and the action taken against them; and
(d) the steps taken to stop such black-marketings?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN)
(a), (b) and (c) Public Distribution System (PDS) is an operation of vast magnitude
involving large number of agencies under the joint responsibility of the Center and the State
Governments. As such offences committed by some functionaries owing to various temptations
of easy black money cannot be ruled out. However, it cannot be said that the menace of black
marketing is growing in the country. As per the information received from the State
Governments, the number of persons arrested for black marketing and other offences in respect
of essential commodities including food grains during the period from 1.1.2000 to 30.6.2000 is
2380. State wise figures of arrests made on account of black marketing of subsidized food
grains is not available.
(d) Under the guidelines for implementation of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
the States and Union Territories have been asked to draw up inspection schedules for District,
Taluk level officers right from Collector/District Magistrate to the Inspector of Supplies,
take steps to introduce greater measure of transparency in the functioning of PDS, constitute
Vigilance Committees at various levels and to hold their meetings regularly. A model Citizens`
Charter for TPDS has been prepared and circulated to the states/UTs for adoption.
State Governments have also been requested to effectively use Section (3) of
the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to curb malpractices in the system.