Seafood in PDS: Centre says states free to add from their budget

In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha whether “nutrient-dense options like millets and seafood can be offered in the PDS scheme”, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said while the Centre gave free wheat and rice to 81-crore poor people, the states were free to add whatever they wanted to.

The question was asked by YSRCP’s L S Devarayalu: “Sir, I specifically asked whether the ministry has plans to offer nutrient-dense options. The reason I asked this has two dimensions — a NITI Aayog paper said they are working on giving government subsidies on protein-rich foods; and the government is giving a lot of impetus to the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana…”