Page 623 - ES 2020-21_Volume-1-2 [28-01-21]

250 Economic Survey 2020-21 Volume 2

Fortification of Rice and Its Distribution

7.51 To address the issue of anaemia and micro-nutrient deficiency and to promote nutrition
security in the country, a centrally sponsored pilot scheme on “Fortification of Rice & its
Distribution under Public Distribution System” was approved for a period of 3 years beginning
in 2019-20 with total budget outlay of ` 174.64 crores. The pilot scheme is being funded by
Government of India in the ratio of 90:10 in respect of North Eastern, Hilly and Island States
and 75:25 ratio in the rest of the States.

7.52 The pilot scheme will focus on 15 Districts, preferably one district per state during the initial
phase of implementation. Following State Governments, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab,
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand & Madhya Pradesh have consented and identified their
respective districts for implementation of the pilot scheme. Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have already started distribution of fortified rice
under the scheme in their selected districts.

One Nation One Ration Card
7.53 The Department of Food & Public Distribution in collaboration with all States/UTs is

implementing a central sector scheme namely “Integrated Management of Public Distribution
System (IM-PDS)” the validity of which is extended up to 31.03.2022. The main objective of
the scheme is to introduce nation-wide portability of ration card under National Food Security
Act (NFSA) through ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ System. This system will enable the ration
card holders to lift their entitled foodgrains from any fair price shop (FPS) of their choice
anywhere in the country by using their same/existing ration card. At present, the facility is
seamlessly enabled in 32 States/UTs covering nearly 69 crores beneficiaries (86 per cent of the
total NFSA population) in the country. Under this system, equivalent food subsidy through DBT
(Cash Transfer) is provided to portability beneficiaries in Chandigarh and Puducherry instead of
subsidised foodgrains.

Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic)

7.54 In addition to maintaining buffer stocks and for making a provision for meeting the

requirement of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS), the
Food Corporation of India (FCI) on the instructions from the Government sells excess stocks
out of Central Pool through Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS (D)] in the open
market from time to time at predetermined prices. A target of 150 lakh MT of wheat has been
set for sale by FCI including retail sale, out of the Central Pool in the open market under OMSS
(D) during 2020-21. For rice, this target is 50 lakh MT during 2020-21. The quantities of wheat
and rice sold under the OMSS (D) during the last 4 years and FY 2020-21 are as presented in
Figure 17.