Parliament Question: Smart Grain ATMs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 662 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2026 SMART GRAIN ATMS 662. SHRI HARENDRA SINGH MALIK: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): whether the Government is making any special budgetary provision for installation of smart Grain ATMs at fair price Shops under One Nation One Ration Card Scheme for migrant workers in the Muzzaffarnagar Lok Sabha Constituency; (b): whether there is any time-bound plan to achieve zero storage losses offoodgrains by adopting modern silo technology in the warehouse of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the State Warehousing Corporation in Muzaffarnagar; (c): whether the Government proposes to provide pulses and edible oils at subsidised rates, in addition to fortified rice to Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card holder in IVluzaffarnagar through the Public Distribution system; (d): whether any new guidelines have been issued to further strengthen the Mobile Ration Van Service in remote villages oflV[uzaffarnagar for the effective implementation of the Pradhan- Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY); and (e): if so, the details thereoF ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) & (b): The Grain ATM, branded as Annapurti, is a design, conceptualized and developed by World Food Programme (WFP) India. This automated grain dispensing machine aims to provide an enhanced experience to beneficiaries by offering 24/7 access to food grains with speed, precision and transparency using the existing biometric authentication system. It also aims to enhance access of migrant National Food Security Act / One Nation One Ration Card beneficiaries to their TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System) entitlements and to ensure exact weighment. The role of the Government of India is limited upto facilitation of willing States and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the said initiative by acting as coordinator. The Government of India has not made any budgetary provision for installation of smart Grain ATMs at fair price shops (FPS) under One Nation One Ration Card Scheme for migrant workers in the country.Silo storage is mechanized and automated, which aids in curtailing losses. Further Silos are being constructed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis and Concessionaire is liable for any abnormal loss. Maximum loss to the extent of 0.05% of intake quantity only is permissible in storage of wheat in Silos in case the storage period is more than 1 (one) year. At present, no Steel Silo project is planned in the IViuzaffarnagar Lok Sabha Constituency by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) or the State Warehousing Corporation (SWC). (c): The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is now governed as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS A). Under the Act, the term “foodgrains'’ is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time. At present, no proposal for inclusion of more commodities like pulses and edible oils under the scheme is under consideration of the Government. (d) & (e): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/Union Territory (UT) Governments. The operational responsibilities for allocation of foodgrains within the States/ UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards to them, distribution of foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries under TPDS, issuance of license to Fair Price Shop dealers, supervision over and monitoring of functioning of FPSs etc. rest with the concerned State/UT Governments. The State Government of Uttar Pradesh has reported that Fair Price Shop (FPS) is operational at each Gram Panchyat level to ensure the convenient distribution of foodgrains to beneficiaries and foodgrains are being distributed through ePoS machines integrated with electronic wejghing machines #####