Beneficiaries of PDS

For allocation of foodgrains (wheat and rice) to States and Union Territories (UTs) under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Department of Food and Public Distribution uses the number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families based on 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning Commission and the population estimates of the Registrar General of India (RGI) as on 1st March 2000 or the number of such families actually identified and ration cards issued to them by State/UT Governments, whichever is less. As per these estimates, the number of BPL families is 6.52 crore, which includes about 2.43 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families. Allocation of foodgrains to about 11.52 crore Above Poverty Line (APL) families are also made depending upon the availability of foodgrains in Cenral pool and past offtake. 

The National Food Security Bill (NFSB) introduced in Lok Sabha on 22.12.2011 provides for coverage of 75% and 50% of the rural and urban population respectively under TPDS. Under the Bill, allocations of foodgrains to States/UTs are proposed to be revised annually based on actual or estimated population, as the case may be. 

As per information received from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, at present there is no proposal to increase the PDS Kerosene quota of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. 

This information was given by the Minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Prof. K.V. Thomas in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on March 4, 2013.