CCEA approves additional allocation of 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for BPL familes in FY14

KOLKATA: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs ( CCEA) has approved the additional allocation of 50 lakh tonne of foodgrains for the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families at BPL prices during the current financial year.

This additional allocation of 50 lakh tonne will remain valid for lifting upto 31st March, 2014 or till the National Food Security Ordinance is implemented in the respective State/UT Governments.

Earlier this year also a similar allocation of 50 lakh tonne of foodgrains to States/UTs has been approved. Considering the sufficient availability of stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool and requests received from States/UTs, Government has been allocating additional BPL allocation of 50 lakh tonne of wheat and rice to the States/UTs since 2010-11.

The government is allocating foodgrains to the states/Union Territories (UTs) under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) as per 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning Commission and March, 2000 population estimates of Registrar General of India (RGI) for 6.52 crore BPL families which include 2.43 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families.

The states/UTs have been requesting for higher allocation of foodgrains as per the number of beneficiaries identified by them.