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Year-End- Review of Department of Food and Public Distribution– 2024
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Thursday, 26 December, 2024, 13 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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Major highlights of the activities of the Department of Food & Public Distribution during the year 2024:
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY):
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was launched with the specific purpose of ameliorating the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to economic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 outbreak in the country. In view of Covid crisis, the allocation of free food grains, under PMGKAY was in addition to regular allocation done. A total quantity of approx. 1118 LMT food grains had been allocated under PMGKAY (Phase I-VII) for 28 months with a total planned financial outlay was about 3.91 lakh crore.
The Central Government, in order to remove the financial burden of the poor beneficiaries and to ensure nationwide uniformity and effective implementation of the Act, had decided to provide food grains free of cost to NFSA beneficiaries i.e. AAY households and PHH beneficiaries, for a period of one year beginning from 1st January 2023 under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). Prior to that, under NFSA, subsidised food grains were distributed at Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and at Rs 1 per kg for coarse grains to beneficiaries. The period for distribution for free of cost food grains under the PMGKAY has been extended for five years w.e.f. January 1, 2024.
The PMGKAY Scheme would ensure effective and uniform implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA). Under the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC), which is a successful initiative of portability of ration card, any beneficiary can take delivery of food grains from any FPS at uniform NFSA entitlement and price across the country. The free food grains will concurrently ensure uniform implementation of portability under One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) across the country and will further strengthen this choice-based platform.
At present, against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore persons, 80.67 crore persons are receiving food grains free of cost.
Annual Allocation of Food grains for 2023-24 under TPDS/OWS and Additional allocation (Flood, festival)
The Department of Food & PD makes allocation of food grains under NFSA {Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Priority Household (PHH), Tide Over, PM Poshan Scheme, Wheat Based Nutrition Programme [a component of Umbrella ICDS and Other Welfare Schemes such as, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, Annapurna Scheme and Welfare Institutions & Hostels Scheme (WIH). The Scheme-wise allocation for the year 2024-25 is as follows:
PM's announcement on Rice Fortification
PM of India in his address on the 75th Independence Day (August 15, 2021) made an announcement providing nutrition by supplying of fortified rice throughout the government schemes. Pursuant to the announcement, the Government of India in order to achieve uniform nutritional impact of fortified rice among the targeted population is supplying fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM Poshan) Scheme, and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme and in Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) in all States and Union Territories (UTs). The initiative aims to provide fortified rice enriched with essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, adhering to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The initiative was scaled up in three phases - Phase I (2021-22) covering ICDS & PM-POSHAN, Phase II (2022-23) covering ICDS, PM-POSHAN and 291 Aspirational & High Burden districts under TPDS and Phase III (2023-24) covering ICDS, PM POSHAN and all districts under TPDS.
The initiative to supply fortified rice has been successfully implemented by March, 2024, achieving 100% lifting. Custom-milled rice has been replaced with fortified rice in every scheme of the Government. Initially funded by the Government of India as part of food subsidy until June 30, 2024, the initiative was reviewed for further continuation and future cost-sharing. The Cabinet during a meeting held on October 9, 2024, has approved to continue the supply of fortified rice under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY) and Other Welfare Schemes from July 2024 and upto December 2028. This initiative will continue as a Central Sector Initiative, fully funded by the Government under the existing PMGKAY framework, utilising the previously approved allocation of Rs 11,79,859 crore for the PMGKAY scheme.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) reforms
100% digitised ration cards/bene?ciaries’ data under NFSA in all States/UTs. Details of almost 20.54 Crore ration Cards covering around 80 crore bene?ciaries are available on transparency portals of States/UTs.
More than 99.8% Aadhaar seeding of ration cards (at least one member).
About 99.8% (5.41 Lakh of total 5.43 Lakh) Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country are automated using electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices for transparent and ensured distribution of subsidised food grains to beneficiaries.
Under distribution of food grains, more than 97% of the transactions have been recorded biometrically/Aadhaar authenticated by States/UTs.
Progress of One Nation One Ration Card plan
Starting with inter-State portability in just 4 States in August 2019, so far, the ONORC plan has been enabled in all 36 States/UTs (across the country) covering around 80 Crore NFSA bene?ciaries, i.e., almost 100% NFSA population in the country.
Since inception of ONORC plan in August 2019, more than 158.8 Crore portability transactions have been recorded under the ONORC plan in the country delivering more than 315.8 LMT food grains, which includes both inter-State and intra-State transactions.
During year 2024, about 30 crore portability transactions were performed in 11 months of 2024 delivering around 66 LMT food grains including inter-state and intra-state portability transactions of NFSA and PMGKAY. Presently, more than 2.5 crore portability transactions are being recorded every month under PMGKAY foodgrain distribution.
Movement of food grains
During 2024 (from January 2024 to October 2024), 204 containerised rakes moved with approximate freight savings of Rs 4.40 crore.
FCI is also undertaking multi-modal transportation of rice involving coastal shipping and road movement from designated depots of Andhra Pradesh to designated depots in Kerala and A&N and Karnataka to Lakshadweep. During 2024 (i.e. from January 2024 to October 2024) 0.39 LMTs Food grains stock were moved based on cost economics in comparison to the conventional mode of transportation.
Further, FCI has moved total 10205 rakes of food grains with approximate quantity of 358.93 LMT have been loaded from January 2024 to October 2024, to meet the requirement of NFSA.
Support to Farmers
Procurement Operation: The main objectives of food management are procurement of food grains from farmers at remunerative prices, distribution of food grains to consumers, particularly the vulnerable sections of society at affordable prices and maintenance of buffer stock for food security and price stability. The Central Government extends price support to paddy, coarse grains and wheat through the FCI and State Agencies. All the food grains (wheat and paddy) conforming to the prescribed specifications offered for sale at specified centres are bought by the public procurement agencies at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) inclusive of bonus announced, if any. The farmers have the option to sell their produce to FCI/State Agencies at MSP or in the open market as is advantageous to them.
During RMS 2024-25, a quantity of 266.05 LMT of wheat was procured through which 2248725 number of farmers were benefited.
During KMS 2023-24, a quantity of 782.29 LMT of paddy has been procured through which 10657828 number of farmers were benefited. During ongoing KMS 2024-25, 283.17 LMT of paddy has been procured and 2014007 number of farmers have been benefited till 01.12.2024.
Procurement of Coarse Grains/ Millets
The total Coarse grain procurement carried out during KMS 2023-24 is 12.55 LMT which is 170% as compared to procured during KMS 2022-23. This is the highest coarse grains procurement in last 10 years.
The procurement of coarse grains/millets during the last two years and estimated procurement for current year is as under:
Foodgrain packaging Material
In view of the capacity of production by Jute mills and requirement by States/FCI, this Department has allocated 17.53 lakh jute bales in KMS 2024-25, and 15.67 lakh jute bales in RMS 2024-25/ KMS 2023-24 (Rabi crop) to State Procuring Agencies and FCI. As sufficient jute bags were available, no permission for use of HDPE/PP bags was given to States/FCI in last two seasons.
Imposition of Wheat Stock Limit
In order to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, the Government of India has imposed wheat stock limits on June 24, 2024, which is later revised on 09.09.2024 & 11.12.2024 and is applicable until March 31, 2025 for all States and Union Territories.
The revised stock limits are applicable after 15 days from date of notification (i.e 11.12.2024).
The total number of entities registered on wheat stock portal is 25,017 and 68 LMT stock of wheat has been declared on wheat stock portal (as on 11.12.2024)
Food Subsidy
Government of India/Ministry of Finance does not allocate State-wise funds under PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana), rather funds towards food subsidy are released to FCI (Food Corporation of India) and States that have adopted Decentralised Procurement based on the distribution of food grains to the targeted beneficiaries. The details of food subsidy released to FCI and DCP States in previous and current financial year is Rs 2,11,394.39 crore and Rs 1,40,239.10 crore (till October 2024) respectively.
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