Parliament Question: Food and Nutrition Insecurity

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2044 TO BE ANSWERED ON lITll FEBRUARY, 2026 FOOD AND NUTRITION INSECURITY

12044. SHRI NARAYANDAS AHIRWAR:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

be pleased to state:

(a): whether the Government is aware that a large number of families are facing good and nutrition insecurity due to continous drought, limited livelihood resources and poverty in Bundelkhand region;

(b): if so, the concrete steps taken by the Government during the last five years to provide food grains to poor and poorest of the poor families and to strengthen the distribution system through National Food Security Act, 2013, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana and the Public Distribution System in the districts of Bundelkhand region;

(c): whether in view of the special circumstances of said region the Government proposes to launch targeted and area-specific food and nutrition security programmes/campaigns for Bundelkhand to effectively control the problem of malnutrition; and

(d): if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a): There is no report from any State regarding food and nutritional insecurity in Bundelkhand regIon.

(b): The Government is implementing the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) which aims to supplement the food requirements of upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population, which at Census 2011 comes to 81.35 crore persons. The coverage of beneficiaries is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit. Under the Act, while Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg offoodgrains, per household per month, Priority Households (PHH) are dntitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month free of cost.

As part of the technology driven Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) reforms with the aim to enhance transparency and efficiency in the TPDS, ration cards/beneficiaries database have completely digitized ( 100%) in all States/UTs. The transparency portal and online grievance redressal facility/ Toll- free number is available in all States/UTs. Further, for better tracking of foodgrains distribution, all Fair Price Shops (FPSs) have been automated by installing ePoS devices for the distribution of foodgrains in a transparent manner (electronically) through biometric/Aadhaarauthentication of beneficiaries. Also, the Mera Ration App has been launched by the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), which enhances transparency and accessibility in Public Distribution System. It allows beneficiaries to log in using the Aadhaar number of the Head of the Family and view ration entitlements centrally.

In order to strengthen the PDS in Bundelkhand region, the State Government is undertaking eKYC= of beneficiaries through biometric authentication, integration of ePoS devices with electronic weighing scales and implementation of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme.

(c) & (d): in order to improve the level of nutrition, an advisory has also been issued to all the States/UTs to procure millets and distribute them to beneficiaries as per local consumption preferences and as per guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time. IVlillets, which are commonly known as Nutri-Cereals, are already a part of Public Distribution System (PDS).

From a nutritional perspective, in the Bundelkhand region, coarse grains Gowar, maize, and bajra) are also being distributed free of cost, as per availability, to beneficiaries of the Antyodaya and Priority Household schemes.

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