81.73 lakh bogus ration cards eliminated in West Bengal
81.73 lakh bogus ration cards
eliminated in West Bengal
Department of Food and Public
Distribution is implementing a Plan Scheme on ‘End-to-end Compterisation of
TPDS Operations’ during 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) at a total project cost
of Rs. 884.07 crores. The cost is being shared on 90:10 basis with NE States
and on 50:50 basis with other States/UTs. The component-I of the scheme
comprises activities namely, digitization of ration card/beneficiary and other
databases, computerization of supply-chain management, setting up of
transparency portals and grievance redressal mechanisms etc.
He said that during the implementation of the project and as reported by the State Government of West Bengal during the last three years (i.e. April, 2012 to March, 2015) 81.73 lakh bogus ration cards have been eliminated. The “End-to-end Computerization of TPDS Operations” Scheme has been built around the best practices and innovations/ experiments carried out by different States/UTs and it is evolving all the times. All such best practices/innovations are shared with all the States/UTs through periodic seminars, Video Conferences, letters and departmental magazines etc. Elimination of bogus cards has reduced losses to the extent bogus ration cards have been eliminated. This information was given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
Food subsidy of Rs. 1, 13,171
crore released during 2014-15
The National Food
Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) entitles upto 75% of the rural population and upto
50% of the urban population to receive foodgrains at subsidised prices of Rs.
3/2/1 per kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains under Targeted Public Distribution
System (TPDS), thus covering about 81.35 crore people of the country. In
2014-15, foodgrains under the Act were allocated for about 33.74 crore
beneficiaries, based on their reported identification for coverage under the
Act by 11 States/Union Territories (UTs). In 2015-16, 12 more States/UTs have
joined NFSA and at present about 49.67 crore people are covered in these 23
States/UTs for receiving foodgrains at subsidized prices under the Act.
Foodgrains allocation under existing TPDS is continuing in remaining 13
States/UTs. This information was given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Rajya
Sabha today.
The Minister said that under NFSA, eligible households comprise of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and priority households. The Act provides that identification of AAY households is to be done in accordance with the guidelines applicable to the said scheme and the remaining households, i.e. priority households, are to be identified in accordance with such guidelines as State Governments may specify. AAY is an ongoing scheme and the AAY households are already identified in States/UTs. For identification of priority households, complete responsibility for evolving the criteria and their actual identification is with the State Governments. It is not linked to Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) under the Act. However, Few States have used SECC data for identification of eligible households.
He said that expenditure on subsidy involved in allocation of foodgrains under NFSA as well as existing TPDS is met out of budgetary allocation for food subsidy. During the year 2014-15, food subsidy of Rs. 1, 13, 171.2 crore was released.
.
The Minister said that under NFSA, eligible households comprise of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and priority households. The Act provides that identification of AAY households is to be done in accordance with the guidelines applicable to the said scheme and the remaining households, i.e. priority households, are to be identified in accordance with such guidelines as State Governments may specify. AAY is an ongoing scheme and the AAY households are already identified in States/UTs. For identification of priority households, complete responsibility for evolving the criteria and their actual identification is with the State Governments. It is not linked to Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) under the Act. However, Few States have used SECC data for identification of eligible households.
He said that expenditure on subsidy involved in allocation of foodgrains under NFSA as well as existing TPDS is met out of budgetary allocation for food subsidy. During the year 2014-15, food subsidy of Rs. 1, 13, 171.2 crore was released.
.
*****
Steps to improve efficiency of
PDS
Government of
India has enacted the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) on 10.09.2013,
which inter-alia provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and
upto 50 % of the urban population of the country for receiving foodgrains at
subsidized prices under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Under the
Act, the coverage under TPDS has been delinked from poverty eestimates. As per
the above coverage and based on 2011 censes population, the number of persons
eligible for subsidized foodgrains under TPDS in the country is estimated at
about 81.35 crore. Based on the preparedness and identification of
beneficiaries for coverage under the NFSA, reported by them, allocation of
foodgrains to 23 States/UTs, including Bihar and West Bengal (7 districts) have
started under the Act. About 50 crore beneficiaries have been covered in these
23 States/UTs. The number of beneficiaries under NFSA in Bihar and West Bengal
are 8.57 crore and 1.59 crore respectively. NFSA has not started in Uttar
Pradesh. In remaining 13 States/UTs including Uttar Pradesh and partially in
West Bengal foodgrains allocation under existing TPDS is continuing. This
information was given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister said that TPDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/UT Governments. Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India. The operational responsibilities for allocation and distribution of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of 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.
Shri Paswan said that strengthening and streamlining of TPDS is a continuous endeavour. To improve functioning of TPDS to curb leakage / diversion of foodgrains, Government has been regularly issuing advisories and holding meetings, conferences, etc. wherein State/UT Governments are requested for review of lists of beneficiaries, improving offtake of allocated foodgrains, ensure timely availability of foodgrains at FPSs, greater transparency in functioning of TPDS, improved monitoring and vigilance at various levels, improving the viability of FPS operations, etc. The NFSA, 2013 also contains measures for reforms in TPDS, to be under taken progressively by the Central and State/UT Governments. These reforms inter alia including cash transfer, door-step delivery of foodgrains at the FPS, application of information and communication technology tools including end to end computerization, performs to public institutions/bodies in licensing of FPS, etc.
He added that the NFSA also provides that while implementing the provisions of this Act and the schemes for meeting specified entitlements, the Central Government and the State Governments shall give special focus to the needs of the vulnerable groups, specially in remote areas and other areas which are difficult to access, hilly and tribal areas for ensuring their food security.
.
The Minister said that TPDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/UT Governments. Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India. The operational responsibilities for allocation and distribution of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of 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.
Shri Paswan said that strengthening and streamlining of TPDS is a continuous endeavour. To improve functioning of TPDS to curb leakage / diversion of foodgrains, Government has been regularly issuing advisories and holding meetings, conferences, etc. wherein State/UT Governments are requested for review of lists of beneficiaries, improving offtake of allocated foodgrains, ensure timely availability of foodgrains at FPSs, greater transparency in functioning of TPDS, improved monitoring and vigilance at various levels, improving the viability of FPS operations, etc. The NFSA, 2013 also contains measures for reforms in TPDS, to be under taken progressively by the Central and State/UT Governments. These reforms inter alia including cash transfer, door-step delivery of foodgrains at the FPS, application of information and communication technology tools including end to end computerization, performs to public institutions/bodies in licensing of FPS, etc.
He added that the NFSA also provides that while implementing the provisions of this Act and the schemes for meeting specified entitlements, the Central Government and the State Governments shall give special focus to the needs of the vulnerable groups, specially in remote areas and other areas which are difficult to access, hilly and tribal areas for ensuring their food security.
.
*****
Manufacturers and service
providers to be made liable for their products and services
One of the main
features of the Consumer Protection Bill, 2015 already introduced in the Lok
Sabha, is inclusion of provisions relating to product liability as per which,
where any personal injury, death, or property damage is caused to the consumer
resulting from defects in the manufacture, construction, design, formula,
preparation, assembly, testing, service, warning, instruction, marketing,
packaging, or labelling of any product, the manufacturer or producer of such
product shall be liable for the product in product liability action. This
information was given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister said that the proposed Bill seeks to provide for several provisions aimed at simplifying the consumer dispute adjudication process in the consumer fora. These include, among others, enhancing the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Consumer Grievance Redressal Agencies, increasing minimum number of Members in the consumer courts to facilitate quick disposal of complaints, power to review their own orders by the State and District Commission, constitution of ‘Circuit Bench’ to facilitate quicker disposal of complaints , reforming the process for the appointment of the President and Members of the District Fora, enabling provisions for consumers to file complaints electronically and file complaints in consumer courts that have jurisdiction over the place of residence of the complainant, and deemed admissibility of complaints if the question of admissibility is not decided within the specified period of 21 days.
.
The Minister said that the proposed Bill seeks to provide for several provisions aimed at simplifying the consumer dispute adjudication process in the consumer fora. These include, among others, enhancing the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Consumer Grievance Redressal Agencies, increasing minimum number of Members in the consumer courts to facilitate quick disposal of complaints, power to review their own orders by the State and District Commission, constitution of ‘Circuit Bench’ to facilitate quicker disposal of complaints , reforming the process for the appointment of the President and Members of the District Fora, enabling provisions for consumers to file complaints electronically and file complaints in consumer courts that have jurisdiction over the place of residence of the complainant, and deemed admissibility of complaints if the question of admissibility is not decided within the specified period of 21 days.
.
*****
Steps to improve access of
farmers to foodgrains procurement agencies
The Government has
taken a number of steps to increase awareness among farmers about Government
foodgrains procurement. Farmers are made aware of the procurement operations by
way of advertisements like displaying banners, pamphlets, announcement for
procurement and specification in print and electronic media. Some States have
taken steps to pre-register farmers for ensuring procurement from them through
a software system. This information was given by the Minister of Consumer
Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in a written
reply in Rajya Sabha today.
The steps
taken to improve access for the procurement amongst the farmers are:
- Keeping in view the procurement potential
areas, procurement centres for MSP operations are opened by Government
agencies, both FCI and State Government, after mutual consultations.
· Procurement centres are opened
by respective State Govt. Agencies/ FCI taking into account the
production, marketable surplus, convenience of farmers and availability of
other logistics / infrastructure such as storage and transportation etc. Large
number of temporary purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandis and
depots/godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of the
farmers.
· The Govt. agencies also engage
Co-operative Societies and Self Help Group which work as aggregators of produce
from farmers and bring the produce to purchase centres being operated in
particular locations/areas and increase outreach of MSP operations to small and
marginal farmers. These Co-operative Societies are in addition to the direct
purchases from farmers.
· Co-operative societies/Self
Help Groups are engaged in many States like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha,
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. Whereas, in some states like
Punjab and Haryana, the Government of India has permitted the State Governments
to engage Arhatiyas for procurement of foodgrains from the farmers on payment
of commission. These steps have been taken by Government of India (GOI) so that
Govt. agencies can procure maximum foodgrains directly from farmers by
expanding out- reach of MSP benefit to farmers.
. *****
Rs. 90 crore released to FCI
and NAFED for procurement of pulses
NAFED, SFAC and FCI will
procure of pulses (Tur and Urad) in the Kharif 2015 season at prevailing market
rates from farm gate/Mandis for creation of buffer stocks. Rs. 50 crore and Rs.
40 crore has been released to FCI and NAFED respectively to start procurement
of pulses in Kharif Marketing Season 2015-16. SFAC will undertake procurement
from Rs. 9 crore PSF fund already available with them. This information was
given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri
Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
Over 16, 66, 000 MT foodgrian
storage capacity is being created
Total storage capacity available with FCI for storage of foodgrains as on 31st October,
2015 is 366.87 Lakh MT. New storage godowns are being
constructed with Plan funds in Plan Scheme and also with the help of private
investors in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. This information was
given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri
Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
The
Minister said that under Plan Scheme, which is focussed on the North Eastern
States, a capacity of 19170 MTs has been constructed in Assam in 2015-16 till
31/10/2015. Following state-wise capacities are under
construction in the current year:-
|
Sl
|
State
|
Capacity
in MT
|
|
1
|
Assam
|
30830
|
|
2
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
9630
|
|
3
|
Manipur
|
5000
|
|
4
|
Nagaland
|
12920
|
|
5
|
Tripura
|
5000
|
|
6
|
Kerala
|
5000
|
|
|
Total
|
68380
|
He said that besides this, Under Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) scheme
being implemented in PPP mode, the state-wise capacities completed and under
construction in the current year. State-wise storage capacities
constructed and under construction under PEG Scheme in 2015-16
|
Sl
|
State
|
Capacity completed (MT)
|
Capacity under construction (MT)
|
|
1
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
0
|
25,000
|
|
2
|
Bihar
|
15,000
|
265,000
|
|
3
|
Chhattisgarh
|
25,270
|
67,040
|
|
4
|
Gujarat
|
0
|
0
|
|
5
|
Haryana
|
0
|
16,680
|
|
6
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
0
|
0
|
|
7
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
340
|
101,000
|
|
8
|
Jharkhand
|
13,000
|
30,000
|
|
9
|
Karnataka
|
0
|
36,670
|
|
10
|
Kerala
|
0
|
0
|
|
11
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
110,260
|
422,370
|
|
12
|
Maharashtra
|
0
|
0
|
|
13
|
Odisha
|
30,000
|
35,000
|
|
14
|
Punjab
|
75,767
|
128,270
|
|
15
|
Rajasthan
|
0
|
15,000
|
|
16
|
Tamil Nadu
|
5,000
|
75,000
|
|
17
|
Telengana
|
0
|
0
|
|
18
|
Uttarakhand
|
0
|
0
|
|
19
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
0
|
338,000
|
|
20
|
West Bengal
|
65,270
|
43,010
|
|
|
Total
|
339,907
|
1,598,040
|
****
Steps to improve the
availability and to contain prices of essential food items
The State
Governments are fully empowered under the E.C. Act to regulate production,
distribution, supply and prices of the food items being essential commodities
in the respective States. The States are the implementing agencies to implement
the EC Act, 1955 and the Prevention of Black marketing & Maintenance of
Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980, to ensure adequate availability of
essential commodities at reasonable prices, by exercising powers delegated to
them. This is reviewed periodically at the National level. The Annual National
Consultation meetings of the Ministers of Food & Consumer Affairs of States
were held on 04.07.2014 and another on 07.07.2015. This information was given
by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram
Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Steps taken by the Government to improve the availability and to contain prices of essential food items include:
• Export of onion is restricted through Minimum Export Price (MEP) and presently the MEP is USD 700 per MT w.e.f. 24.8.2015. Import of onion is allowed at zero duty.
• Imported 2000 MT of onion from Egypt and China through MMTC. As no demand from the states was received, the onion is being disposed of through tendering in the open market.
• Retail sale of onion was undertaken from the stock held by SFAC and NAFFED.
• The stock limit in respect of onion has been extended up to 2nd July 2016.
• Export of all pulses is banned except kabuli channa and up to 10,000 MTs in organic pulses and lentils.
• Zero import duty on pulses extended till 30.9.2016 except for chana and lentils which will be reviewed during December 2015.
• Imported 5000 MT of Tur from Malawi/Mozambique and allocated to States with a subsidy of Rs. 10 per Kg for retail sale to consumer.
• Stock limit on pulses extended till 30.9.2016.
• MSP raised for kharif pulses by Rs. 275 per qtl for Tur & Urad, and by Rs. 250 per qtl for Moong. MSP also raised for rabi pulses by Rs. 250 per qtl for Gram and Masoor.
• Export of edible oils in bulk is prohibited except coconut oil, rice bran oil and organic edible oil and other edible oil in branded consumer packs of up to 5Kgs with a MEP of USD 900 per MT.
• MSP increased in the range of Rs. 30 per qtl to Rs. 250 per qtl for various rabi and kharif oil seeds.
• National Consultation Meeting of the Ministers of States/UTs in-charge of Consumer Affairs and Food held on 7thJuly, 2015 at New Delhi to keep prices of essential commodities, especially Pulses and onion under control.
• Advisory to State Governments issued to take strict action against hoarding & black marketing and effectively enforce the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 & the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.
• Review meetings on price and availability situation have been held at the highest level including at the level of Finance Minister, CoS, IMC, PSFMC and Departmental level.
• Measures taken to improve availability by incentivizing production through higher MSP.
• A new Plan Scheme titled Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) has been implemented for regulating price volatility of agricultural commodities.
Steps taken by the Government to improve the availability and to contain prices of essential food items include:
• Export of onion is restricted through Minimum Export Price (MEP) and presently the MEP is USD 700 per MT w.e.f. 24.8.2015. Import of onion is allowed at zero duty.
• Imported 2000 MT of onion from Egypt and China through MMTC. As no demand from the states was received, the onion is being disposed of through tendering in the open market.
• Retail sale of onion was undertaken from the stock held by SFAC and NAFFED.
• The stock limit in respect of onion has been extended up to 2nd July 2016.
• Export of all pulses is banned except kabuli channa and up to 10,000 MTs in organic pulses and lentils.
• Zero import duty on pulses extended till 30.9.2016 except for chana and lentils which will be reviewed during December 2015.
• Imported 5000 MT of Tur from Malawi/Mozambique and allocated to States with a subsidy of Rs. 10 per Kg for retail sale to consumer.
• Stock limit on pulses extended till 30.9.2016.
• MSP raised for kharif pulses by Rs. 275 per qtl for Tur & Urad, and by Rs. 250 per qtl for Moong. MSP also raised for rabi pulses by Rs. 250 per qtl for Gram and Masoor.
• Export of edible oils in bulk is prohibited except coconut oil, rice bran oil and organic edible oil and other edible oil in branded consumer packs of up to 5Kgs with a MEP of USD 900 per MT.
• MSP increased in the range of Rs. 30 per qtl to Rs. 250 per qtl for various rabi and kharif oil seeds.
• National Consultation Meeting of the Ministers of States/UTs in-charge of Consumer Affairs and Food held on 7thJuly, 2015 at New Delhi to keep prices of essential commodities, especially Pulses and onion under control.
• Advisory to State Governments issued to take strict action against hoarding & black marketing and effectively enforce the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 & the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.
• Review meetings on price and availability situation have been held at the highest level including at the level of Finance Minister, CoS, IMC, PSFMC and Departmental level.
• Measures taken to improve availability by incentivizing production through higher MSP.
• A new Plan Scheme titled Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) has been implemented for regulating price volatility of agricultural commodities.
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