(a) whether the failure of States to lift their quota of foodgrains under the Public Distribution System is also a contributory factor for rising prices;  (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to take action against such States;  (c) if so, the details thereof; and:  (d) the incentives proposed to be provided to the States to lift their quota of foodgrains in order to control prices? ANSWER MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K. V. THOMAS)  (a): No Madam. The offtake ratio of total allocated quantity of rice and wheat by the states under TPDS during 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 (upto December, 2009) has been 89.2% and 90.6% respectively. This is far better than the offtake ratio during the previous four years i.e. 2004-05 (40.9%), 2005-06 (43.4%), 2006-07(54.4%) and 2007-08 (84.8%).  (b) & (c): Does not arise  (d): In addition to allocation under TPDS, the Government has also released 20 lakh tons of wheat and 10 lakh tons of rice to various StatesAJTs at MSP based prices plus average freight cost for distribution to retail consumers during October 2009 to March, 2010 under Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to check inflationary trends in food economy. State wise allocation and lifting of Wheat and Rice under OMSS is given in Annexure I and II respectively. Further, 15.18 lakh tons of wheat has been allocated for tender sale to bulk consumers during October, 2009 to March, 2010 and another 5 lakh tons of wheat has been allocated for tender sale during the same period to small processors. A special adhoc additional allocation of 5.32 lakh tons of rice and 12.72 lakh tons of wheat @ 10 kg. of food grains per family in respect of all accepted number of families (BPL/AAY/ APL) in the country has been made at MSP based prices on 20.1.2010 in order to check inflationary trends in food economy. This allocation has been made for two moths, namely January and February, 2010.