APL families not to be excluded from PDS: Govt

The above poverty line (APL) families will not be excluded from the public distribution system even after implementation of the proposed National Food Security Act, the government today assured Rajya Sabha.     

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the government would follow an inclusive policy wherein both APL and below poverty line families will get foodgrains at cheaper rates.     

He allayed the apprehension of CPI(M) Member Brinda Karat, who asked the minister whether the government plans to cut the PDS allocation for APL families under the Act.     

"We have only circulated a note to all the state governments, seeking their views on this. We have not taken a final view on PDS allocation for APL families. Some states have sent in their views, while responses from the rest are awaited. We won't exclude anybody, we will include all the categories for allocating foodgrains through PDS under the Act," the minister said.     

He told the House that in order to frame the proposed Act, government has initiated necessary action. Examination of different aspects of the proposed law in consultation with state governments, various ministries and other stakeholders is currently going on. 

Replying to another supplementary, the minister said that as per government records there are 6.5 crore BPL card holders in the country. At the same time, states have distributed about 12 crore BPL cards.     

"This is an unresolved issue, and we are trying to resolve it through discussions," Pawar told the House.     

He added that the annual subsidy burden on the government would come around to Rs 50,000 crore.     

For BPL families with low purchasing power, wheat and rice are distributed at highly subsidised prices of Rs 4.15 a kg and Rs 5.65 a kg, respectively. For the 2.43 crore poorest families among the BPL, categorised under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, wheat is distributed at Rs 2 and rice at Rs 3 per kg.     

Pawar said under the Annapurna scheme, distressed senior citizens above 65 years of age and not getting old-age pension are supplied foodgrains free of cost at 10 kg per person per month.