Parliament Question: NFSA in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6040 TO BE ANSWERED ON IsT APRIL, 2026 NFSA IN TAMIL NADU 6040. SHRI CN ANNADURAI: SHRI SELVANI G: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): whether the Union Government has appreciated the effective implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 by the State Government of Tamil Nadu through its robust Public Distribution System ensuring timely and transparent distribution of subsidised foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries across the State; (b): if so, whether the Union Government has taken note of the commendable role played by the State Government of Tamil Nadu in strengthening last-mile delivery and ensuring wider coverage of Priority Households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries under NFSA; (c): the quantity offoodgrains allocated by the Union Government to Tamil Nadu under NFSA during the last five years, year-wise; and (d): the steps taken by the Government to further support States like Tamil Nadu in strengthening foodgrain supply chains and ensuring uninterrupted distribution of subsidised foodgrains to beneficiaries under the Act? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) & (b): The National Food Security Act, 2013 provides for coverage of about 62.55% of the rural and 37.79% of the urban population for receiving foodgrains free of cost under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in the State of Tamil Nadu, which at Census 2011 comes to about 364.70 lakh persons. As on 01.03.2026, the State Government of Tamil Nadu has identified beneficiaries upto the maximum permissible limit of about 364.70 lakh persons for distribution of free of cost food graIns (c): The details of the quantity of foodgrains allocated to the State of Tamil Nadu under NFSA during the last five years, year-wise is at Annexure.(d): Central Government is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Assistance to State Agencies for intra-state movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin under NFSA”. Under the scheme, the funds are released to States/UTs for meeting the expenditure towards Intra-State movement & handling offoodgrains, FPS dealers’ basic margin & FPS dealers’ additional margin for delivery offoodgrains at the door step of FPS and its delivery to the identified beneficiaries. seescseS ctANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN PART (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6040 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026 REGARDING “NFSA IN TAMIL NADU”. Quantity offoodgrains allocated to the State of Tamil Nadu under NFSA during the last five years, year-wIse. (Fig. in thousand tons.) Years Rice Wheat Total 2020-202 1 2308.708 206.2 1 9 2514.927 202 1 -2022 2303.736 255.971 2559.707 2022-2023 243 1 .72 1 127.986 2559.707 2023-2024 2466.75 1 102.78 1 2569.532 2024-2025 2427.273 145.534 2572.807