Over 80 Crore NFSA Beneficiaries Availing Benefits Of PDS Through 5.45 Lakh Fair Price Shops In India: Govt

Over 80 crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries are availing the benefits of Public Distribution System (PDS) in the country, the government has informed the Parliament.

"As on 30^th June 2023, around 80.10 Crore NFSA beneficiaries [Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)-8.95 Crore & Priority Households (PHH)- 71.15 Crore] are getting benefits of Public Distribution System in the country through 5.45 lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in India," Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Friday (21 July).

The minister said that as per the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) Control Order 2015, the review of ration cards or beneficiaries list, identification of ineligible or duplicate ration cards and inclusion of eligible beneficiaries or households is the responsibility of concerned state or UT government.

She added that the states and UTs have been advised to undertake proper verification (including field verification) of each identified case to ensure that ration cards of genuine beneficiaries are not deleted or suspended.

Further, States and UTs regularly issue new ration cards to the eligible households or beneficiaries in place of cancelled ration cards under ceiling limit of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the minister said.

Accordingly, the concerned state or UT identify the eligible beneficiaries and inform the Central Government for any change in the number of beneficiaries within the ceiling limit of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), she added.

The minister also informed that as of now, the use of blockchain technology within the Public Distribution System (PDS) is not under consideration of Central government.