The Government is considering a Special Purpose Vehicle for transportation of foodgrains from procuring states to consuming states and GPS tracking system to monitoring the movement of foodgrains. Briefing the media persons after the conclusion of two days’ Conference of State Food and Agriculture Ministers here today, Minister of Consumer Affairs & Food and Public Distribution, Prof. K V.Thomas said that States have resolved to modernize the Public Distribution System and create modern storage facilities.

Prof. Thomas said that during deliberations, it was reported by some of the States that there would be massive savings in foodgrains and subsidy amount if biometric-based bar-coded ration cards are issued to the beneficiaries. The intention was to ensure that the fruits of subsidy reach the poor and needy sections of the society and the PDS is streamlined / modernized with the help of modern techniques of Information Technology. It was stated that a Plan Scheme had already been drafted and sent to the Planning Commission for giving financial assistance to the States to computerize the PDS.

He said that the Conference also resolved to create modern storage facilities including 2 MMT of storage in the shape of silos. The States were strongly urged to provide lands for setting up silos and take advantage of the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme of the Government of India.

The purpose of the conference was to provide a common platform to all the key decision makers involved in Food and Public Distribution System of India, from Centre and States / UTs to discuss and debate the various issues in modernizing the TPDS, to arrive at an action plan to be implemented by the various agencies and also to set timelines for completion of the same.

Minister of Consumer Affairs & Food and Public Distribution pointed out that this is the time to act given the huge subsidy of 60-80% on the price of foodgrains. Hence, it is the moral responsibility of all those involved to ensure that it reaches the true beneficiaries at the right time. He complimented the FCI for reducing storage losses from 2.5% to 0.1% through modernization of godowns. He requested all the States to prepare a 5-year prospective plan to create intermediate storage capacity at the district, block, Gram Panchayat and fair price shop level by leveraging existing schemes, both at the Central and State level.

During the deliberations, the Chairman UIDAI expounded on the tremendous possibilities that the Aadhar Scheme held for modernization of TPDS. He also spoke on the recommendation of the task force on reform of PDS and the PDS Network (PDSN).

In the Interactive sessions spread over two days, all the States and Union Territories made their presentation highlighting the issues faced by them and also giving their valuable suggestions for the smooth functioning of the TPDS and storage initiatives. Further, the States elaborated their plans in the direction of achieving transparency, modernization through latest technology and the progress made in the creation of storage. Many States provided details of the best practices evolved by them for improving the efficiency of TPDS, such as the use of coupons, SMS, bar-codes, biometric identification, smart cards, GPS enabled vehicles, etc.

North Eastern States were vocal in their demand for increased financial assistance to meet their transportation cost and to improve their transportation infrastructure. Many of the smaller States asked FCI to procure in their States until such time that they set up their own procurement infrastructure and institutions. Similarly hilly States and NE States also wanted maintenance of 3-4 months buffer stocks at district level as transportation is severely affected during winter and monsoon.

The Conference was attended by Food and Agriculture Ministers from 20 different States / UTs. The Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee was the Chief Guest. The Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Nandan Nilekani, Chairman, UIDAI and Shri Ajit Seth, Cabinet Secretary were some of the important participants in the Conference.

Source - Press Information Bureau Website Dated 9th Feb 2012

The stock position of food grains in the Central Pool as on 1.12.2011 was 547.19 lakh tons comprising of 270.63 lakh tons of rice and 276.56 lakh tons of wheat. The buffer stocks norms have been maintained for rice and wheat for the entire Central Pool stocks on a quarterly basis.

The current stocks of food grains in the Central Pool are quite adequate to meet the food grain requirements of the country as per existing allocations for TPDS and Other Welfare schemes. The Government has been intensifying procurement operations and more States are encouraged to make decentralized procurement. Government has been reviewing the Minimum Support Price for food grains from time to time to encourage farmers to produce more. As a result, procurement during the last four years has recorded considerable increase from 36.24 million tons in 2006-07 to 62.34 million tons in 2010-11. Further, to augment scientific storage capacities, Government has formulated a Scheme for construction of storage go-downs through private entrepreneurs, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs). Under the scheme, capacity of about 151 lakh tons is to be created in 19 States through private entrepreneurs and CWC and SWCs. 5.4 and 14.4 lakh tons storage capacities respectively are being constructed by CWC and SWCs under the Scheme. Out of the above, a capacity of about 4 lakh tons has already been completed by CWC/SWCs.

The Government has made allocation of a quantity of 612.07 lakh tons of rice and wheat under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) during the current year, thus making substantial quantity of food grains available through the Public Distribution System at subsidized prices. This includes additional allocation of 50 lakh tons of food grains to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families at BPL prices in May 2011 and 50 lakh tons to Above Poverty Line (APL) families at APL prices in June 2011. In addition to the above, 23.67 lakh tons of food grains have been allocated at Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) and BPL prices to 27 States for distribution in 174 poorest/backward districts.

This information was given by the Minister of State (independent charge) for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Prof. K.V. Thomas in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on the 20^th December 2011.

Source: Press Information Bureau Website.

For more visit PDS Gaya's website.

Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prof. K.V Thomas has said that the Government is committed to enactment of the National Food Security Act to provide a statutory framework for assured food security to all. Addressing the Inaugural Session of a seminar organized by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) here today (12^th October 2011), the Minister said that the proposed legislation would be a paradigm shift in approach towards food security - from welfare based to rights based approach, involving legal obligation on the Government to deliver food entitlements. It will be a comprehensive effort, adopting a life-cycle approach, in providing food and nutritional security to people, with special emphasis on vulnerable groups (For example, people belonging to Below Poverty Line).

Highlighting the priority of the Government to provide food security to all, Prof. Thomas said that the draft Bill proposes to provide right to receive food grains at subsidized prices under the Targeted Public Distribution System by persons belonging to priority households and general households. It proposes coverage of up to 75% of the total rural population, with at least 46% population belonging to priority households and up to 50% of the total urban population, with at least 28% population belonging to priority households. Each person in priority households would be entitled to 7 kg food grains per month at a price of not exceeding `3 `2 or `1 per kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains and 3 kg per person per month at a price of not exceeding 50% of the minimum support price for wheat and coarse grains and derived minimum support price for rice in general households.

The Food Minister said that the Bill also contains provisions for Nutritional support to pregnant women, lactating mothers and children, entitlements of special groups such as destitute persons, homeless and such other needy persons, emergency and disaster affected persons, persons living in starvation, etc.

He said, “The Central Govt. has held wide ranging consultations with various stakeholders, including State Governments and UT Administrations regarding the proposed Food Security legislation. Based on these consultations and comments/recommendations received, we have recently prepared a draft National Food Security Bill and the same has been placed on the website of the Ministry for comments/suggestions. The Bill is likely to be introduced in the Parliament shortly after taking into account the comments received from stakeholders and after appropriate consultations.”

Prof. Thomas said that implementation of the legislation which will place a major demand on agricultural production and related infrastructure is no doubt, going to be a challenging task. It would involve enhanced production of food grains, higher procurement, creation of additional storage facilities, rail-road infrastructure for movement of food grains and a streamlined distribution network. Based on the provisions of the draft Bill, the requirement of food grains for TPDS, Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) and natural calamities is estimated at about 61 million tons.

In order to cover a large section of rural as well as urban population, as envisaged in the proposed National Food Security Act, it is necessary to have sufficient stocks of food grains in the Central Pool for distribution. To meet the increased requirement of food grains, R&D efforts need to be intensified to ensure better yield from the available agricultural land. Development of modern farming technologies, high-yield varieties of seeds, efficient irrigation techniques are required to attain higher food grain production. The minister expressed confidence that Institutions like ICAR and IRRI are quite capable in meeting the challenges of research and development in the field of agriculture to ensure sustained implementation of the proposed legislation.

Government, NGOs, Research Institutions and other stakeholders must work together to make this momentous legislation a success so that the intended benefits reach the targeted beneficiaries, the minister added.

This is according to a news release available on the Press Information Bureau website. For more information related to Public Distribution System, visit PDS Gaya Website at www.pdsonline.in

Foodgrains stock in the country with the Government procurement agencies as on 1st July, 2011was 640.06 lakh tonnes comprising 268.57 lakh tonnes of rice and 371.49 tonnes of wheat.

The procurement of rice as on July 1, 2011 (KMS 2010-11) was 316.07 lakh tonnes as against 297.47 lakh tonnes procured last kharif season. Wheat procurement for Ravi Marketing Season 2011-12 was 278.38 lakh tonnes as against 224.72 lakh tonnes procured last in season.

The off take of rice in all schemes, during June, 2011, has been 28.10 lakh tonnes. This comprises 19.04 lakh tonnes under TPDS and 9.06 lakh tonnes under other schemes. The total off take of wheat has been 20.59 lakh tonnes comprising of 14.74 lakh tonnes under TPDS and 5.85 lakh tonnes under other schemes.

The total allotment of rice during June, 2011, under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) including BPL (Below Poverty Line), APL (Above Poverty Li ne)and AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) was 22.02 lakh tonnes, against which the total offtake was 19.04 lakh tonnes, representing an overall percentage offtake of 86.5 percent. The BPL allotment of rice was 9.68 lakh tonnes, against which the offtake was 9.65 lakh tonnes, representing percentage off take 99.7 per cent.

In respect of AAY the allotment during the month was 5.75 lakh tonnes, against which the off take was 5.55 lakh tonnes, which represents 99.6 percent off take. The total allotment of wheat under TPDS including BPL, APL and AAY was 19.54 lakh tonnes, against which the total off take was 14.74 lakh tonnes, representing an overall percentage 75.4 percent off take. The BPL allotment of wheat was 4.85 lakh tonnes, against which the off take was 5.41 lakh tonnes representing an off take of 111.6 per cent. In respect of AAY, the allotment was 2.79 lakh tonnes, against which the off take was 2.74 lakh tonnes, which represents 98.1 percent off take.

Source – Press Information Bureau

Visit PDS Gaya's blog for more PDS news.