Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

1. BLACK MARKETTING OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES
Unstarred Question 1366
16/11/2010

(a) the number of raids conducted under the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supply of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 during each of the last three years; State-wise;

(b) the number of arrests prosecution and conviction made under the said Act during the said period, State-wise;and

(c) the value of goods confiscated under the said Act and the manner in which they were disposed of, State-wise?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K. V. THOMAS)

(a) to (c): There is no provision for conducting any raid under the Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act,1980. However, the State Governments take action under Essential Commodities Act. The Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 however provides that with a view to preventing a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies of the commodities essential to the community it is necessary so to do, make an order directing that such person be detained.

Details of detention orders issued under the Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 as reported to the Central Government by the State Government/UT Administrations during the year 2007, 2008 , 2009 and 2010 (upto 30.09.2010) are given below:

Name of the State 2007 2008 2009 2010 (Upto 30.09.2010)

2. COMPUTERISATION OF PDS
Unstarred Question 157

(a) Whether the Government proposes to computerize the Public Distribution System for disbursing of foodgrains in consonance with the recommendations of the Supreme Court; and

(b) If so, the details thereof and the action taken so far in this regard?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a) to (b) As per the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Order dated 27.7.2010, a Task Force headed by Director General, National Informatics Centre has been set up on 9.8.2010. The Task Force has submitted its report for Computerization of the Public Distribution System.

Government of India has taken up the scheme of computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) operations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the TPDS on a pilot basis in three districts each of Andhra Prdesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Delhi and piloting of food grain bag tracking in one district in Chhattisgarh .

A pilot scheme on Smart Card based delivery of essential commodities has been approved for Chandigarh UT and Haryana. Under the scheme, existing ration cards are to be replaced by Smart Cards.

3. STORAGE FACILITIES
Starred Question 557
4/5/2010

(a) the total storage capacity held by the Food Corporation of India and the Central Warehousing Corporation, State-wise;

(b) whether the condition of the godowns in the country is very poor and there is acute shortage of storage space in some States including Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, State-wise; and

(d) the remedial steps taken for improving the condition of the godowns and for construction of new godowns?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)

(a),(b),(c)&(d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO.557 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 04.05.2010 IN THE LOK SABHA.

(a): The total storage capacity both covered and Covered and Plinth (CAP), owned and hired by Food Corporation of India(FCI) and Central Warehousing Corporation(CWC) as on 31.03.2010 is 288.36 and 104.57 lakhs tonnes respectively. The State-wise details are given in the statement at Annexure.

(b)&(c): No, Madam. Periodical maintenance of the storage godowns available with FCI and CWC are carried out to maintain them in storage worthy condition. At present storage gap is observed in the major procuring States on account of expected higher arrival of new rabi wheat crop. The storage gap in Punjab and Haryana is estimated at 12.63 lakh tonnes and 1.04 lakh tonnes respectively. Adequate storage space is available with the FCI as on 15th April, 2010 in the States of Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

(d): The Government releases funds as equity to Food Corporation of India(FCI) and as Grants-in-aid to the North Eastern States including Sikkim and J&K, under the Plan Scheme for construction of new godowns. For the Eleventh Five Year Plan, the Planning Commission has allocated Rs. 125.00 crore to be released as equity to FCI and Rs.24.00 crore as Grants-in-aid to the North Eastern States, Sikkim and J&K.

For creation of storage capacity for the long term, Government has formulated a scheme for construction of storage godowns through private enterpreneurs, under a 7 year guarantee. A capacity totaling 127.65 lakh tonnes has been approved under the scheme. Further, Central Warehousing Corporation and State Warehousing Corporations can construct godowns at approved locations under the Scheme on their own land for which FCI will provide a 6 year guarantee.

http://164.100.47.132/Annexture/lsq15/4/as557.htm


4. FOODGRAINS UNDER PDS
Unstarred Question 6353
4/5/2010


(a) the quantum of foodgrains and other items demanded by the States, allocated by the Union Government and actually distributed to different categories of Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiaries during each of the last three years, Statewise;

(b) whether any complaints have been received regarding unavailability of the said commodities under the PDS; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto, Statewise including Bihar?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a) to (c): Commodity-wise details are as follows:

Foodgrains:

The allocations of foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) are not demand based. The allocations to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families including Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families are made @ 35 kg. per family per month as per the accepted number of families based on 1993-94 poverty estimates of the Planning Commission projected on March 2000 population estimates of the Registrar General of India or the number of families actually identified and ration cards issued by State/UT Governments, whichever is less.

The allocations for Above Poverty Line (APL) category are made depending upon the availability of foodgrains in the Central Pool and past offtake. State-wise details of the allocations and offtake of foodgrains under TPDS during the last three years are as per Annex-I.

Government have received some complaints from individuals, organizations and through media reports on the functioning of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in various parts of the country including non-availability of foodgrains. State-wise details of such complaints including Bihar are at Annex-II.

TPDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Government of India and State/ Union Territory (UT) Governments. The responsibility of lifting of the foodgrains allocated by Government of India from the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), their distribution within State/UT, supervision of distribution of allocated foodgrains to eligible ration cardholders through fair price shops (FPS), and monitoring functioning of FPS rest with the State/UT Governments. These complaints, therefore, as and when received, are sent to the concerned State/ UT Governments for inquiry and appropriate remedial action.

For streamlining the functioning of TPDS, the Government has also directed State /UT Governments to -

(i) Review, on a continuous basis, lists of BPL and AAY families and ensure timely availability of foodgrains at fair price shops;

(ii) Improve monitoring and vigilance at various levels;

(iii) Ensure greater transparency in functioning of TPDS; and

(iv) Introduce new technologies such as Computerization of TPDS operations at various levels and smart card based delivery of essential commodities.

KEROSENE:
Kerosene (SKO) is one of the items distributed through Public Distribution System (PDS). Allocation of PDS SKO is made by the Government of India to different States/UTs on a quarterly basis for distribution under PDS for cooking and illumination purpose only. Further distribution within States/UTs through the PDS network is the responsibility of the concerned States/UTs. The scale of distribution of PDS SKO per card holder varies from State to State. State-wise details of PDS SKO allocation and offtake during the last three years are at Annex—III. There is no shortage of kerosene reported in any part of the country during the current financial year.

LEVY SUGAR:
The Central Government allocates levy sugar to all the States/UTs including Bihar as per the levy sugar quota fixed by the Central Government. The responsibility of distribution of sugar through the Public Distribution System and maintain smooth operation of PDS in the State lies with the respective State Governments/UT Administrations. A statement showing State-wise levy sugar quota supplied under PDS during last three years is at Annex - IV. The details of actual lifting of levy sugar against the allocations made by Central Government is not available.

http://164.100.47.132/Annexture/lsq15/4/au6353.htm

5. DECENTRALISED PROCUREMENT SCHEME
Unstarred Question 4004
24/4/2010

(a) whether the Government proposes to include more items under the Decentralised Procurement Scheme; and

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the various suggestions received from the States in this regard?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a): No, Madam

(b): Does not arise. Moreover, no suggestion to include more items under the Decentralised Procurement Scheme have been received from any State Government.


6. DISTRESS SALE OF PADDY AND WHEAT:
Unstarred Question 2314
21/7/2009

(a) Whether distress sale of paddy and wheat has been reported from some States;

(b) If so, the details thereof;

(c) Whether the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has issued any directive to increase procurement of paddy and wheat in such States; and

(d) If so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a):No, Madam. There have been no reports of distress sale of paddy and wheat by any State Government.

(b),(c)&(d):Do not arise.