XI LOK SABHA DEBATES,   Session V (Monsoon) 

Thursday, July 24, 1997/Sravana 2, 1919 (Saka)


*t06

Type of Debate: MATTERS UNDER RULE 377				

Title: 	Re: need to enhance quota of cereals for State of Orissa under
Public Distribution System.

TEXT :
 DR. KRUPASINDHU BHOI (SAMBALPUR): The sudden reduction of PDS quota to  Orissa
from  1.5  lakh  metric  tonnes  to  35,000 metric tonnes per month out of the
Central pool under the new TPDS by Government of India has put the  people  of
the  State  in  a great hardship. The public distribution system has virtually
collapsed and the TPDS has adversely affected the market condition. The supply
of wheat is completely stopped at a time when people have been  habituated  to
consume `roti' at night.

	As  many  as  43  lakh families in Orissa are living below the poverty
line. All these people were drawing  ration  through  fair  price  shops.  Now
Government of India has put this figure at 32 lakh by a sample survey. Thus 11
lakh  poor  families  straightway  remain  out  of the ambit of TPDS. This has
caused a serious discontentment among the people.

	I, therefore request the Central Government that the defective  sample
figure of the people living below the poverty line be rectified as 43 lakh and
the quota of cereals for the State of Orissa under PDS may be enhanced keeping
in view the actual demand of the State.




[NEXT PAGE]