Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution addresses a parliamentary question regarding the inclusion of nutrition-rich foods in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and related food security schemes. Millets are already part of the PDS, and the government supports states in procuring and distributing them, including minor millets and pseudo-millets since 2023. While Chhattisgarh has not procured millets, it distributes 'Gram' (chickpeas) through PDS in specific areas.
Key Points / Main Content:
Millets in Public Distribution System:
* Millets (Nutri-Cereals) are already part of the PDS, allocated under the National Food Security Act, 2013, and distributed free of cost under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) since January 1, 2024.
* States can procure coarse grains at Minimum Support Price (MSP) for distribution under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).
* The government encourages states to procure and distribute millets, offering support for interstate transportation and advance subsidies.
* Revised guidelines in 2021-22 extended the distribution period/shelf life of millets to 9-10 months and included provisions for interstate transport and advance subsidies.
* Minor millets and pseudo-millets procurement allowed at MSP of Ragi from 2023.
* The government has been increasing the MSP for millets.
Pulses Procurement:
* Pulses procurement is carried out by FCI and other agencies under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) and Price Support Scheme (PSS).
Chhattisgarh's Procurement and Distribution:
* Chhattisgarh has not procured millets in the last five years.
* Chhattisgarh distributes 'Gram' (chickpeas) through PDS in Modified Area Development Approach (MADA) and Scheduled Areas.
* Gram entitlement is 2 Kg per ration card at Rs.5 per Kg per month.
* Gram is procured by the Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation, with procurement and distribution quantities provided for the last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25).
Promotion of Nutricereals:
* The government promotes millets distribution through PMGKAY, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP), and PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal).
* Minor Millets and Pseudo Millets have also been included for procurement and distribution under TPDS ICDS MDM.
* Fortified Rice enriched with iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 is procured and distributed under PMGKAY and OWS.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
* Impact: Encouraged to procure and distribute millets, including minor millets and pseudo-millets.
* Action Required: Increase millet procurement through state agencies, following central government guidelines.
Farmers:
* Impact: Potential to benefit from MSP for millets and pulses.
* Action Required: Engage with state procurement agencies to sell millets and pulses.
Beneficiaries (PDS Recipients):
* Impact: Increased availability of nutrition-rich foods like millets, pulses and fortified rice through PDS and related schemes.
* Action Required: Consume available nutrition-rich foods offered through PDS and related schemes.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other agencies (NAFFD, NCCF):
* Impact: Responsible for pulses procurement and potentially millets based on state demand.
* Action Required: Carry out pulses procurement under PSF and PSS.
Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation:
* Impact: Responsible for Gram procurement and distribution in specific areas.
* Action Required: Continue procuring and distributing Gram efficiently, adhering to entitlement guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
Public Distribution System PDS: A government-run food security system for distributing subsidized food and non-food items to India's poor.
National Food Security Act, 2013: An Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana PMGKAY: A food security welfare scheme providing free food grains to beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Minimum Support Price MSP: An agricultural product price set by the Government of India to purchase directly from farmers, to safeguard them from price fluctuations.
Chhattisgarh: A state in Central India where the procurement and distribution of nutrition-rich food is being examined.
Food Corporation of India FCI: The Food Corporation of India is a statutory body created and run by the Government of India.
Commission of Agricultural Costs and Prices CACP: Advises the Government of India on agricultural price policy.
NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA: Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 526
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2025
NUTRITION-RICH FOOD PROCUREMENT
526. SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken steps to include nutrition-rich food items such as
pulses, millets and other protein and fibre-rich foods in the Public Distribution System (PDS)
and allied food security schemes;
(b) the quantity of such nutrition-rich food procured and distributed in the State of
C:hhattisgarh during the last five years, Scheme and year-wise;
(c) whether the Government is facing challenges in the procurement, storage, or delivery of
such items, i.e., perishable or high-cost protein sources like eggs, milk and pulses in
Chhattisgarh especially in tribal or remote areas; and
(d) the measures taken by the Government to improve the availability and accessibility of
nutrition-rich food items for beneficiaries in the said State, in line with updated nutritional and
dietary standards?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): 'Millets’, which are commonly known as Nutri-Cereals, are already a part of Public
Distribution System (PDS). Millets are alloeated in terms of National Food Security Act, 2013.
From lst January 2024, the aforesaid allocation is being made free of cost under Pradhan
Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
-2-As per existing policy of Government of India, the procurement of coarse grains is
regulated by guidelines for allocation, distribution, and disposal of coarse grains (Jowar, Bajra,
Maize & Ragi etc.) and 6 minor millets procured by the States/FCI. Under these guidelines,
States are allowed to procure these commodities in Decentralized Procurement mode from
farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) for distribution under Targeted Public Distribution
System (TPDS)/Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).
To improve the level of nutrition, an advisory has been issued to all the States/U's 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. However, if any deficit
State places demand ofmillets, the same is to be made available from surplus procuring States
to the deficit States.
All State Governments are being pursued by the Govt. of India to take necessary steps
to increase the procurement of millets in the States through State govt. agencies, like wheat
and paddy.
In order to promote the procurement and distribution of millets and to obviate the
difficulties faced by the States, the Govt. of India has issued revised guidelines in 2021-22.
The salient features of which are as under: –
(i) in order to increase the procurement and distribution of millets under NFS A/ OWS,
distribution period/ shelf life of millets has been enhanced up to 9 months for Jowar/BQjra and
10 months for R_agi from existing 3 months.
(ii) Provision for inter-state transportation ofmillets from surplus procuring States to deficit
States that are willing to distribute millets under NFSA/ OWS has been incorporated.
(iii) A provision for advance subsidy, as being given in case of procurement and distribution
of wheat/rice, has been added in the guidelines.(iv) Apart from three major millets procured under Central Pool i.e. Jo\var, Bajra and Ragi.
Govt. of India has also allowed the procurement of following minor/ pseudo millets on the
MSP ofRagi from 2023 :
Minor Millets- Foxtail Millet (Kangani/ Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet
(Kodo), little mil]et (Kutki) Pseudo Millets- (Buck-wheat (kuttu) and Ameranthus(Chaulai)
(v) Govt. of India, on the recommendations of Commission of Agricultural Costs and
Prices (CACP), has also increased the MSP for millets year on year to promote their public
procurement
.
As per the Government of India decision, pulses procurement has been carried out by
FCI and other agencies (NAFF.D, NCCF, etc.) FInder Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) for
creation of buffer stock of pulses through domesl.ic procurement and to provide remunerative
price to farmers during KMS 2015-16. KMS 2016-17 & KMS 2016-17. Subsequently, the
pulses procurement operation' was carried out under Price Support Scheme (PSS) from KMS
2017- 18 onwards.
(b): No procurement of Millets has been done by the State Government of Chhattisga.rh
during the last mvc years.
As per the State Govt. of ChhattisgmJl, only Gram is distributed through PDS under
category of pulses in the State. Gram is distributed only in. Modified, Area Development
Approach (MADA) and Scheduled Areas of the state to Priority l-'lousehold and Antyodaya
cardholders. Entitlement of Gram is 02 Kg per ration card @ Rs.5 per Kg per mona 1. Gram is
procured by the Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation. The quantity of procurement
and distribution of Gram in the State of ChhaLtisgarh in the last five years is mentioned below
In year-wIse manner:-4-
(in MT)
S.No Year Procurement Distribution
2020-2 1 52201.16 43989.77
2021 -22 65587.96 61865.91
2022-23 49594.91 62350.84
2023 -24 72364.39 64723.60
2024-25 70188.31 66677.07
(c): Under NFS A, only foodgrains i.e Rice, Wheat and Coarse grains are distributed to
eligible beneficiaries.
(d): in order to promote nutri-cereals, Govt. of India promotes procurement and distribution
of Millets - Jowar, Bajra and Ragi in PMGKAY/ Integrated Child Development Services
(ICDS)/ Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and PM-POSHAN/ Mid-Day Meal
(MDM) apart from distribution under PDS.
Further, vide Govt. of India’s guidelines dated 09.08.2023, Minor Millets - Foxtail
Millet (Kangani/ Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet (Kodo), little millet (Kutki) and
Pseudo Millets- (Buck-wheat (kuttu) and Ameranthus (Chaulai) have also been included in the
procurement and consumption through distribution under the TPDS/ ICDS/ MDM.
With an aim to provide vulnerable populations with enhanced nutrition, Govt. of India
now procures and distributes Fortified Rice enriched with iron, folic acid and vitamin B12
under its different schemes i.e. PMGKAY and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).
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