A.P. STATE CIVIL SUPPLIES CORPORATION EXAM PDS STUDY MATERIAL

DISTRIBUTION OF FOODGRAINS UNDER PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND OTHER WELFARE SCHEMES PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The concept of Public Distribution System in the country was evolved around 1942 due to shortage of foodgrains during 2nd World War and Government intervention in distribution of food started. This intervention of Government in distribution of foodgrains in the food scarcity period and, thereafter, continued in major cities, towns & certain food deficit areas. This policy of Public Distribution System/Rationing System has undergone several changes with every lap of Five Year Planning System in the country. The Seventh Five Year Plan assigned to it a crucial role by bringing the entire population under Public Distribution System and became a permanent feature in the country's economy.
1.1 The Government of India fulfills certain objectives of food security through Public Distribution at an affordable price. In the present scenario, Public Distribution System strives to meet the twin objectives - the price support to the farmers for their product and maintenance of stocks. It is against these stocks procured under price support that every month Government releases a prescribed quantity, in each State for distribution under Public Distribution System. This mission of the Government of India is brought into the reality at the operational level by FCI. The Sales Division communicates the said allocation to its Regional Offices. On receipt of sub-allocation from the State Government, the Regional Offices issue the instructions to the District Offices for releasing the stocks to the respective State Government /their nominees on prepayment basis at district level.1.2 TARGETED PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM(T.P.D.S.)
Public Distribution System was widely criticised for its failure to serve the population below the poverty line, its urban bias, negligible coverage in the States with the highest concentration of the rural poor and lack of transport and accountable arrangements for delivery. Realising this, the GOI has introduced the TPDS scheme w.e.f. 1.6.1997 (w.e.f. 1.5.1997 for the states of Tripura, Haryana and Gujarat) to streamline the PDS by issuing special cards to the families below the poverty line and selling essential articles under PDS to them at a specially subsidised prices with better monitoring of the delivery system. This quantity is issued as rice or wheat or combination of both at BPL prices. The States fix Consumer End Prices (C.E.P). at FPS level at not more than fifty paise per Kg. Over the Central Issue Price (CIP) particularly for the population below the poverty line. The States are also free to add the quantum coverage and the subsidy from their own resources. Common verities of rice are reserved exclusively for the population Below Poverty Line.1.3 The scheme Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is effective all over the country. The allotment/lifting of wheat and rice under TPDS (BPL, APL & AAY) during last five years are as under:-1.4 ANTYODAYA ANNA YOJNA
Govt. of India has decided to issue rice and wheat at the rate of Rs. 3/- per Kg. And Rs. 2/- per Kg., respectively to the poorest strata of population out of the earlier identified BPL population. The allocation and lifting of wheat and rice under this scheme during last five years is as under :
1.5 PRICING
The Government of India, Ministry of CA,F&PD has been fixing Central Issue Prices of wheat and rice from time to time which is uniform throughout the country. The present Central Issue price of wheat and rice effective from 1.7.2002 are as under:-
1.6 VALIDITYGovt. of India is allocating foodgrains (wheat and rice) under Targeted Public Distribution System on monthly basis and issues allocation order for the financial-year wise and makes further revision, if any, from time to time.Ministry during February 2008 has revised the instructions to steamlining of procedure regarding issuance and revalidation/extension of validity period for lifting of foodgrains under TPDS. The validity period for lifting of allocated foodgrains under TPDS will be 50 days for each allocation month separately, starting from 1st day of the month preceding the allocation month and ending on 20th day of the allocation month. For example, the validity period for the allocation for April will be from 1st March to 20th April.
Ministry has made it mandatory for State and UT Govt. to deposit the cost of foodgrains to FCI by 15th of the allocation month (crediting of the amount to the FCI accoubnt) and lifting is allowed within the validity period. Further, power delegated for extension of 15 days by Area Managers has been withdrawn and extension of validity period for 15 days can be granted only by Executive Director (Zone) in cases where State Govt has desposited the entire cost of allotment before 15th of the allocation month and when full quantity of allcoated foodgrains were not available during the validity period in the assigned or alternately assigned FCI depots.

1.7 QUALITY CONFIRMATIONThe foodgrains stocks are lifted by the State Govt./their nominees. Before issue of the stocks, they are allowed to verify the stocks and get themselves satisfied about the quality. Three representative samples are drawn and sealed with joint seal from the stocks issued. One is given to the recepient for displaying at the issue/sale point and two are retained by the FCI, one for depot and the other for District Office.
2.0 WELFARE SCHEMES
Food Corporation of India is also issuing foodgrains under various schemes of the Govt. of India viz. Mid-Day-Meal, Nutrition Programme, SC/ST/OBC Hostels, Welfare Institutions & Hostels, Annapurna, Sampoorn Gramin Rozgar Yojna (SGRY), National Food for Work Programme, Scheme for Adolscent Girls, Pregnant & Lactating Mothers and World Food Programme (WFP) etc. Schemewise details are as under :-
2.1 MID-DAY-MEAL(NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF NUTRITION SUPPORT TO PRIMARY EDUCATION)The GOI have introduced Mid Day Meal scheme- National Programme of Nutrition Support to Primary Education in Primary School in 2368 Employment Assurance Scheme(EAS)/ Revamped PDS Blocks/ Low Female Literacy Blocks w.e.f. 15th August, 1995. Under this Scheme, every child is entitled to 3 kgs. wheat/rice per month at the rate of 100 gms. per day.
The foodgrains are issued by FCI to the nominees of the District Collector without charging any cost from them. However, FCI was raising the monthly bills with MOHRD for claiming the Economic Cost of foodgrains supplied to each State/UT during the month till 31.10.2000. With effect from 1.11.2000 foodgrains under this scheme are being released at the rates applicable to BPL families. A revolving fund to the tune of Rs. 300 crores has already been provided to FCI by MOHRD. Strict Instructions have been issued to the issuing authorities that only good quality of foodgrains be issued under the scheme.
The Ministry of HRD has also extended the NP-NSPE popularly called the Mid day Meal Scheme to the students studying in Primary classes( I to V) in Education Guarantee Scheme(EGS) centres and other alternative education in the States of West Bengal & Assam from January, 2003. From October 2007 the scheme has further extended upto middle standard (VIth to VIIIth). Under this Scheme, every child is entitled to 150 gms. of foodgrains per school day.Details of allotment and lifting during last five years are as under :-
2.3 SC/ST/OBC HOSTELS & WELFARE INSTITUTIONS
The Ministry of CAF&PD and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has to monitor the Scheme for providing foodgrains to SC/ST/OBC Hostels. Hostels having students belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories are eligible to draw 15 Kgs. foodgrains per resident per month.
The Government of India w.e.f. 2.11.2000 has decided that foodgrains (wheat/rice) will also be allotted to the State Governments at the rate of 5 Kg per head per month for indigent people living in Welfare Institutions, such as, Beggar Homes, Homes for Nari Niketan etc. sponsored by the State Govts. and the concerned UT administration. Foodgrains are supplied by FCI at BPL rates. It is clarified that from the year 2002-2003, the MOCAF&PD has been making monthly allotment equivalent to 5% of BPL allotment of the State/UT under the head “Welfare Institutions & Hostels” to meet the requirement of the State/UT for providing foodgrains to different type of welfare institutions. Since April 2005, the Ministry of CAF&PD has enhanced quota of allotment under this scheme to 5% of the monthly allotment made under BPL & AAY. Further, the criterion for making the allotment has been changed by the Department of Food & Public Distribution and the allocation is now being made on the basis of average offtake of last three years.The details of quantities allotted and lifted by the State/UT Govts. during last five years are as under :-
2.4 ANNAPURNA SCHEME
The Union Finance Minister in his Budget Speech for the year, 1999-2000, announced a programme of Food Security for the destitues of aged 65 years and above entitled "Annapurna " under which 10 Kgs. of foodgrains pr month are to be provided, free of cost, to all indigent seniour citizens who are eligible for Old Age Pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme(NOAPS) but are, presently, not receiving the same. This scheme has been approved by the Govt.of India and has been launched from April 2000.
The Nodal Agency for implementing this scheme was the Deptt. of Rural Development in the Union Ministry of Rural Development and allocated funds under the said scheme in favour of all the States & UTs for the year 2000-2001. The foodgrain under this scheme is being issued at BPL rates w.e.f. 1.11.2000. Since, 2002-03 the Annapurna Scheme was transferred to the State Plan and no state-wise allocation of funds and foodgrains were made by the Ministry of Rural Development. Presently, the allotment under Annapurna Scheme is being made by Ministry of CAF&PD on monthly basis.The details of allotment & lifting under this scheme are as under :-
2.5 SAMPOORN GRAMIN ROZGAR YOJNA (SGRY)
Govt. of India introduced Sampoorn Gramin Rozgar Yojna during October, 2001, covering two different schemes namely Jawahar Gramin Smriddhi Yojna (JGSY) & Employment Assuarance Scheme (EAS). The said 2 schemes have now been merged and named as SGRY-normal. Besides this foodgrains are also allotted under Special Component of SGRY to drought / flood affected areas. Wheat and rice under this scheme is issued free of cost to the States/UTs and subsequently bills are raised at Economic Cost with the Ministry of Rural Development. The scheme has been suspended w.e.f. 1.4.2008.
The details of allocation & offtke under SGRY including Special Component are as under :

2.6 NATIONAL FOOD FOR WORK PROGRAMME(NFFWP)
Hon‟ble Prime Minister of India has launched National Food For Work Programme in identified 150 most backward districts of the country during the month of November 2004. Under this scheme, the labour is engaged for development works and then a part of their wages is given as foodgrains. Under this scheme, foodgrains are issued free of cost to the States/UTs and bills are subsequently raised with MORD at BPL rates.
In the beginning a quantity of 20 lakh MTs of foodgrains were allotted by the Ministry of Rural Development for the year 2004-2005 which was valid for lifting upto 30th June 2005 and allotment to the tune of 9 Lakh MT for the year 2005-06 was valid upto 30th June 2006. Further, there is no allocation made for the year 2006-07.
The details of allotment and offtake under NFFWP are as under :-