Parliament Question: Schemes in Lakshadweep

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1814 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29T II JULY, 2026 SCHEMES IN LAKSHADWEEP 1814 SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) the details of the Central schemes relating to Ministry being implemented in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and the extent of their coverage; (b) the status of implementation of schemes such as Public Distribution System (PDS), National Food Security Act (NFSA), One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Consumer Protection initiatives in Lakshadweep; (c) the details of the challenges faced in implementation due to geographical isolation, transportation and storage constraints; and (d) the details of steps taken by the Government to ensure timely availability of essential commodities, price stability and effective consumer grievance redressal in Lakshadweep? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) & (b): The Central Government is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PIVIGKAY), which provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population, which at Census 201 1 comes to 81.35 crore persons.The PN4GKAY is being successfully implemented in all the States/UTs including Union Territory of Lakshadweep. As on 16.07.2026, the UT Administration of Lakshadweep has identified 20,053 beneficiaries against the intended coverage of 21,868 beneficiaries for receiving free of cost foodgrains under the PMGKAY. The One Nation One Ration Card (ONe)RC) plan is successfully implemented by all States/UTs including Union Territory of Lakshadweep. (c): The implementation of PDS in Lakshadweep is ensured meeting all geographical, storage & transportation challenges. (d): Department of Consumer Affairs monitors the daily prices of 41 essential food commodities and the daily report of prices and indicative trends are duly analysed for taking appropriate decisions such as release of stocks from the buffer, targeted retail interventions, stock disclosure by stocl<holding entities, imposition of stock limits, changes in trade policy instruments like rationalization of import duty, changes in import quota, restrictions on export of the commodity etc. Buffer stocks of pulses and onions are maintained under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) to address price volatility and ensure the availability of these essential commodities at affordable prices across the country, including Lakshadweep. The calibrated release of buffer stocks enhances market availability, moderates price increases, and discourages hoarding and speculative practices. The National Consumer Helpline administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs has emerged as a single point of access for consumers across the country including the Union Territory of Lakshadweep for the redressal of their grievances at the pre-litigation stage. Consumers can register their grievances through various media including toll free numbers, SMS, email, web portals and designated apps. #####