Parliament Question: Distribution and Monitoring of Pulses, Sugar and Salt under NFSA in Assam

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5314 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25Tll MARCH, 2026 DISTRIBUTION AND MONITORING OF PULSES, SUGAR AND SALT UNDER NFSA IN ASSAM 5314. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) : whether pulses, sugar and salt are being distributed in addition to foodgrains under the National Food Security Act, 2013 in Assam and if so, the details of the quantity allocated and actually distributed during the last five years; (b): the details of the number of beneficiaries covered under such additional commodities, category-wise (PHH/AAY); (c) : whether the distribution is regular across all districts of the said State and if so, the details thereof; and (d): the details of the mechanism put in place for procurement, quality testing, storage, transportation and end-to-end monitoring of these commodities to ensure timely supply and prevent diversion under the Public Distribution System in Assam? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a): Under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS A), free of cost foodgrains are distributed to eligible beneficiaries as per their entitlement. Under the Act, thQ term “foodgrains” is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time. There is no provision under the Act for distribution of pulses, sugar and salt. However, as per the decision of the State Government of Assam, subsidized Masur Dal, Sugar and Salt are being distributed to NFS A beneficiaries under State Sponsored Scheme w.e.f. November 2025. The details of Quantity of these commodities allocated and distributed since November 2025 is at Annexure I. (b): Each ration cardholder is entitled to receive 1 kilogram of these food items, irrespective of scheme type – AAY or PHH, as per the criteria decided by the State Government. It is the prerogative of the RC Holders to purchase all the 3 commodities or any individual commodity as per their choice. The month-wise details of Ration Cards (Families) covered for availing the three additional commodities are at Annexure ll(c): All the 35 districts in Assam are getting allocation of subsidized Masur Dal, Sugar and Salt since the scheme was implemented in November 2025, and distribution is being carried out regularly every month in all the districts of the State. (d): State Government of Assam has selected National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) as agency for supply and delivery of subsidized Masur Dal, Sugar and Salt. The agency is responsible for milling, packaging, handling, transportation, delivery and quality check of these food items. Random sample checks on the stock supplied by NAFED for quality assurance in the designated Assam State Warehousing Corporation (ASWC) godowns is conducted by district Area Officers of Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs. If any item is found substandard or unfit for consumption as per standards laid down by FSS AI, the same is withheld from distribution. Similar checks are also done with regards to compliance to proper safety standards of storage by ASWC. The commodities are distributed to beneficiaries from the lst to the 10th day of every month during “Anna Sewa Din” along with PMGKAY Rice. Separate biometric authentication is carried out against transaction of each commodity by RC Holders. The RC Holders are handed ePOS generated printed receipts against each transaction by the FPS Dealers. District Area Officers of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs ensure distribution of the three commodities to the authenticated beneficiaries through ePoS devices only, so that there is no pilferage/diversion of commodities. Strict action (such as Suspension/Cancellation of license etc.) are taken against any defaulting FPS . SeSeSqS etSeANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5314 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 25.03.2026 REGARDING “DISTRIBUTION AND MONITORING OF PULSES, SUGAR AND SALT UNDER NFSA IN ASSAM”. Statement showing Quantity of Masur Dal, Sugar and Salt allocated and distributed since November 2025. Masur Dal Sugar Salt Sl "' "'"'"~''' „„..,'„ „„..,'„ „::J.':„=„.,.., ':. ,=::.':=.i D==:=.i n 1 1 n I I n (inQtl) (i „o:>tI) (inQtl) (i „o:>tI) (in Q tI) (i„0 bd) November 1 69, 1 68.46 61,884.51 69, 1 14.05 61 ,760.78 67,394.70 60,361.49 2025 December 2 64,433.34 62,700.93 64,435.68 62,492.58 63,540.16 61 ,702.26 2025 /1 J January 2026 69,460.23 66,930.74 69,460.29 66,765.96 69,460.70 66,335.27 4 February 67,468.97 66, 1 22.93 67,306.28 66, 130.24 66,969.57 65,330.82 2026 5 March 2026 70,712.50 67,096.56 70,712.50 67,280.64 70,712.50 66,591.86ANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5314 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 25.03.2026 REGARDING “DISTRIBUTION AND MONITORING OF PULSES, SUGAR AND SALT UNDER NFSA IN ASSAM”. Statement showing month-wise details of Ration Cards (Families) covered for availing the Masur Dal, Sugar and Salt. Total Ration Cards (Families) getting Allocation i : / 1B ][V10[ n t h IIIIr e a r Masur Dal Salt Sugar 1 November 2025 69,16,846 69, 11,405 67,39,470 2 December 2025 64,43,334 64,43,568 63,54,016 3 January 2026 69,46,023 69,46,029 69,46,070 4 February 2026 67,46,897 67,30,628 66,96,957 5 March 2026 70,71 ,250 70,71,250 70,71 ,250