(a) the criteria followed by the Union Government for allocation of foodgrains and other commodities to different category of beneficiaries covered under the Public Distribution System and Targeted Public Distribution System alongwith the criteria adopted by the States for their distribution within the State;  (b) whether the Government has allocated the said commodities as per the laid down norms;  (c) if so, the details thereof indicating the quantum of the said items allocated and released during each of the last three years, State-wise;  (d) whether some States have violated the norms in distribution of the said items; and  (e) if so, the details thereof and the remedial action taken in this regard? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)  (a) to (e): Commodity-wise details are as follows:  FOODGRAINS:  The allocation of foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is made for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families including Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families @ 35 kg. per family per month on the basis of 1993-94 poverty estimates of the Planning Commission projected on the population estimates of the Registrar General of India as on 1.3.2000, or the number of families actually identified and ration cards issued by State/UT Governments, whichever is less.  Allocations for Above Poverty Line (APL) category are made depending upon the availability of foodgrains in the Central Pool and past offtake.  Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the joint responsibility of the Government of India and State/ Union Territory (UT) Governments. The responsibilities for lifting of the foodgrains allocated by the Government of India, their allocation within State/UT, identification of eligible BPL & AAY families based on estimates of Planning Commission, issuance of ration cards to them, and supervision of distribution of allocated foodgrains to eligible ration cardholders through fair price shops rest with the State/UT Governments. Because of higher number of BPL ration cards issued by some State Governments, the scale of issue of foodgrains for BPL families per month is lower than 35 kg in those States.  State-wise details of the allocations and offtake of foodgrains under TPDS during the last three years are as per Annex-I.  KEROSENE:  Allocation of PDS Kerosene (SKO) is made by the Government of India to different States/UTs on a quarterly basis for distribution under TPDS for cooking and illumination only. The scale of distribution of PDS SKO per card holder varies from State to State. It has been decided ‘in principle’ to restrict subsidy on TPDS kerosene to BPL families only.  State-wise details of PDS SKO allocated and offtake status during the last three years are at AnnexII.  LEVY SUGAR:  With effect from 1.2.2001, the Government has increased the minimum per capita per month quantum of levy sugar for distribution under PDS from 425gms. to 500gms. to benefit the BPL families and the population covered for supply of levy sugar under PDS was on the basis of the projected population as on 1st March, 2000. Accordingly, the allotment of levy sugar is made on the basis of fixed State/UT quotas with effect from 1.2.2001. Since then, the allocation has been made as per the said norms. The criteria adopted by different State Governments for distribution of levy sugar within their States are not available. A statement showing the State-wise levy sugar allocated under PDS during the last three sugar seasons viz. 2006-2007 to 2008-2009 sugar seasons, is at Annex-III.  The responsibility for distribution of levy sugar to targeted people through Public Distribution System and maintaining smooth operation of PDS in the State lies with the respective State Government/UT Administration.