This information was given by K V Thomas, minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution system, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The minister stated that presently, the government allocated food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) to states/Union territories (UTs) at 35 kg per family per month for 6.52 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, including 2.43 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana families. Allocations of food grains for Above Poverty Line families are made depending upon availability of food grain stocks in the Central pool and past offtake by the states/UTs. Presently, these allocations range between 15 and 35 kg per family per month in different states/UTs.
The Bill provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population, with at least 46% population belonging to priority households and upto 50% of the urban population, with at least 28% population belonging to priority households for receiving subsidised food grains under TPDS. Priority households would be entitled to receive 7 kg of food grains per person per month and general households would be entitled to receive not less than 3 kg of food grains per person per month, the minister said.
