(a) whether the Government have any fresh proposal to reorient Target Public Distribution
System (TPDS) with special emphasis to subserve the interests of rural and urban poors;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of steps taken/proposed to be taken to check effectively diversion of food items meant for distribution through PDS to open market, weed out bogus cards/extra non-living members on cards and issue of fresh card through special drive?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )
(a) & (b) : Government has decided to restructure Targeted Public Distribution System
(TPDS) with special emphasis on rural and urban poor and to enhance their food security by
doubling the quantity of foodgrains from the present 10 kg. per family per month.
(c) Public Distribution System is implemented under the joint responsibility of the
Central and State Governments/UT Administrations. The Central Government is responsible
for procurement, storage and transportation of the PDS commodities up to the central godowns
and making them available to the States. The responsibility for distribution to the consumers
through the Fair Price Shops and administration of the PDS rests with the State Governments
and UT Administrations. State Governments have been requested to closely monitor PDS at the
Fair Price Shops (FPSs) and other levels to curb diversion and to make arrangement for
distribution of PDS commodities in a transparent and accountable manner by involvement of
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) etc. in implementation of PDS. They have been asked to
eliminate bogus ration cards and bogus units in the ration cards. The State Governments have
been also advised to initiate action against erring FPS owners under Essential Commodities Act,
1955.