BPL FAMILIES
RAJYA SABHA
The total number
of BPL families in the ocuntry is 652.03 lakh as on 1.3.2000 as
per the population projections of the Registrar General of India.
This represents 36% of the total number of families in the country,
said Shri U.V. Krishnam Raju, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution in Rajya Sabha today.
The Central Issue
Prices of foodgrains issued under PDS for BPL and Antyodaya Anna
Yojana have not been increased since January 1, 2001.
However, after this
date, the retail issue price of sugar through PDS has been increased
twice, on March 1, 2001 (Rs.1325/- per qtl.) and on March 1, 2002
(Rs.1350/- per qtl.). The reason for increasing the price of sugar
issued through PDS was to reduce the burden of subsidy on the
exchequer.
The total stocks
of foodgrains in Central Pool as on November 1, 2002 held by FCI
and State agencies are 535.70 lakh tonnes.
