Parliament Question: NFSA and PDS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3058 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11'rH MARCH, 2026 NFS A AND PDS 3058. SHRI CN ANNADURAI: SHRI SELVAM G: SHRI NAVASKANI K: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): whether the Government has assessed the extent to which homeless persons in Tamil Nadu are able to access food security benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFS A) and the Public Distribution System (PDS) and if so, the details thereof; (b): whether the absence of ration cards, proof of residence or portability barriers is resulting in exclusion of homeless and migrant populations from PDS coverage in major urban centres of the State and if so, the details thereof; (c): whether any mechanism exists to identify and enroll homeless individuals under special or temporary categories to ensure regular access to subsidised foodgrains; (d): if so, the number of homeless beneficiaries, if any, who have been provided PDS coverage in Tamil Nadu during the last three years; and (e): the corrective steps being taken by the Government to extend PDS benefits to homeless and destitute persons through simplified identification, community kitchens or special distribution mechanisms to prevent hunger and food insecurity in the State? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA ) (a) to (e): The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is now governed as per provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS A). TPDS is operated under joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments wherein the responsibility for identification of beneficiaries within the coverage determined for the State/UT and issuance of their ration cards rest with the concerned States/UTs. The Government of Tamil Nadu has reported following special measures taken with regard to coverage of homeless persons:(i) list of homeless people is obtained from the concerned Department in order to issue new family cards. (ii) Special camps are conducted, on need basis, for families who have not yet taken Aadhaar cardl. (iii) Such families are facilitated to get Aadhaar number. based on which family cards are issued. (iv) Special drive was undertaken to identify the homeiess and destitute persons who are living in the streets/platforms through the field officials. (v) 91 new Family cards were issued to homeless people. (vi) Ration card Inter-State Portability under One Nation One Ration card scheme (ONOR_C scheme) is operational since October 2020 in Tamil Nadu. (vii) Community Kitchens named “Anna Unavagam” are operated in Tamil Nadu to provide cooked food at much cheaper price to under privileged & economically weaker section of society. (viii) Community Kitchens run by Women Self Help Groups provide cooked food to all poor people without seeking any identification. +e$eklc SeR