New Delhi: The government told Lok Sabha, that more than 4000 complaints have been accepted regarding the targeted public distribution system (TPD) for a period of three years, between 2018 and 2021.
Revelation was made in response to un suited questions, asking by Shiv Sena MPS Krupal Balaji Tnase and Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav.
Two members of Parliament Sena Shiv asked the government to explain complaints what had been accepted regarding deviation / transfer / corruption in the public distribution system and what actions had been taken by the government in connection with this complaint.
They also asked the government for actions taken to strengthen PDS and improve the quality of food distributed based on this scheme.
In return, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Rural Development and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, told the house that, TDPS was operated together by the central and state government.
Operational responsibilities, such as identification of beneficiaries / households under the National Food Security Law, 2013 (NFSA), publishing a ration card to them, the allocation of meadows to all stores of fair prices (FPSS), distribution to beneficiaries, licenses and monitoring of FPSS, complaints of beneficiary complaints including irregularities / transfer / corruption in TPDS operations, etc.
Lies with the state / UT government concerned, he said.
Complaints received by the departments of individuals, organizations and through media reports on deviations in the TPD function are forwarded to the state / UT government related to inquiry and appropriate actions in the end, said Mos Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.
In 2021 Bihar reported the maximum number of complaints about TDPS, with 97 complaints recorded until 30 June 2021.
Meanwhile Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura only received one complaint, and countries such as Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim , Uttar Pradesh did not have, for the same period of time.
Union, Andaman and Nicobar Island, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep and Puducherry also have no complaints recorded for irregularities in PDS this year.
The department has received the maximum number of complaints about PDS deviations in 2020, with 2076 complaints received, the minister told the house.
Regarding the actions taken to examine the quality of food, the minister said that, grassland samples must be collected and sealed from the grassland stock which will be issued under the TPD together by the FCI and the Government of the State Government.
Routine inspections and examinations must be carried out by the state government and they must ensure that the quality of food grains released below the TPD must meet the desired standards under Indian Food Standards and Food Standards (FSSAI), according to the Minister.