April 03, 2002

    The centre has allocated 69.22 lakh tonnes of foodgrains to states and union territories for distribution under TPDS and Antyodaya Anna Yojana each for the months of April, May and June 2002. This revised allocation has been made for these months for distribution at the rate of 35 kg. of foodgrains per family per month.

    The offtake under PDS has shown considerable improvement in January and February this year. The offtake by Above Poverty Line (APL), Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) was 43.52 per cent of the allotment in January 2002 compared to 39.7 per cent in January last year. The offtake in February, 2002 was 34.27 per cent against 30.67 per cent in February, 2001.

    The allotment of rice under TPDS from April 2001 to February 2002 was 158.13 lakh tonnes and the offtake was 72.1 lakh tonnes representing 45.59 per cent. The offtake of BPL during this period stood at 56.59 per cent and under Antyodaya Anna Yojana it was 77.8 per cent.

    Wheat allotment under TPDS from April 2001 to February 2002 was 121.33 lakh tonnes and the offtake was 46.64 lakh tonnes representing 38.43 per cent. Offtake under BPL and AAY during this period stood at 47.54 per cent and 65.29 per cent respectively.