Govt to provide 5 million tonnes of foodgrain to APL families

The additional allocation, which would be over-and-above the normal quota under the Public Distribution System (PDS), would provide relief to the common man and also help the government in clearing godowns for storage of new crops.

The government is currently providing at least 15 kg each of grain to 11.5 crore APL families. Wheat is being sold at Rs 6.10 per kg and rice at Rs 8.30 per kg to APL families.
"We have proposed additional allocation of five million tonnes for APL families. The Finance Ministry has given the in-principle approval," Thomas told reporters here.
The proposal would be placed before the Empowered Group of Ministers on Food for final approval, he said, adding that the additional quota is meant for this fiscal.

Thomas noted that the total additional allocation would reach 15 million tonnes this fiscal, including five million tonnes for below poverty line (BPL) families and the Supreme Court's order to allocate 5 million tonnes to the poor.

In early May, the EGoM had approved the distribution of an additional 5 million tonnes of foodgrains to 6.52 crore BPL families through the PDS at the central issue price. Under the normal quota, they get 35 kg of wheat and rice per month at Rs 4.15 and Rs 5.65, respectively.

Later, the Supreme Court, too, had directed the government to allocate additional 5 million tonnes to the 150 poorest districts of the country.

With record production and procurement in the last few years, the Centre is grappling with storage problems and hence, has decided to create additional storage space for 15 million tonnes of foodgrains across India through public-private partnerships.

On April 1, 2011, the FCI had storage capacity of nearly 32 million tonnes.
India is estimated to have harvested a record 235.88 million tonnes of foodgrains in the 2010-11 crop year (July-June).

Wheat procurement has crossed 26 million tonnes so far this year, which is an all-time high. The previous record was 25.38 million tonnes in the 2008-09 marketing year (April-March).