Lok Sabha Question No. 396 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Complaints regarding Rotten Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SHARAD TRIPATHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 396 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2017

## COMPLAINTS REGARDING ROTTEN FOODGRAINS

## 396.  SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has received a number of complaints from States with regard to storage and supply of rotten and inferior quality foodgrains;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether any system has been evolved to ensure quality of foodgrains before  and  during  storage  for  the  purpose  of  supply  to  various  States including Uttar Pradesh under Public Distribution System; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) &(b) No complaint has been received from the State Govt. during 2016-17 and 2017-18 till date, with regard to storage and supply of rotten and inferior quality foodgrains to Public Distribution System.
- (c)  &  (d)  Yes  Madam,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  good quality foodgrains during procurement, storage and distribution are at Annex.

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ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) & (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 396 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2017 IN LOK SABHA.

Steps taken by Government to ensure Quality Control of Foodgrains during Procurement, Storage and Distribution

There  are  well defined  quality  control  norms  specified  by  the Government  for  procurement  of  good  quality  foodgrains  for  distribution under  TPDS.  Prior  to  commencement  of  Rabi  and  Kharif  Procurement Seasons,  Department  of  Food  &  Public  Distribution  formulates  uniform specifications for procurement of good quality foodgrains for Central Pool. These uniform specifications are circulated to FCI, all State Governments and their agencies with the instructions to ensure that foodgrains strictly conforming to these uniform specifications should be procured by them.

Facilities for cleaning and drying of foodgrains are to be provided at procurement centre's by State Governments so that good quality foodgrains well within the uniform specifications are procured by FCI and State agencies. Moisture meter, physical analysis kits, etc. are also to be provided  at  the  procurement  centres.  There  are  instructions  that  proper stitching  and  stenciling  on  grain  bags  should  be  carried  out.  Dunnage material,  tarpaulin  and  other  materials  for  safe  storage  of  procured  food stocks  are  also  to  be  provided.  The  Quality  Control  officers  of  FCI  and State Governments have to regularly monitor the quality of foodgrains at the time of procurement.

Procured foodgrains are to be stored in covered godowns as well as under CAP (Covered & Plinth) storage (wheat and paddy only) for varying periods.  During storage, scientific codes of practices for safe storage of foodgrains are to be adopted by FCI and State agencies.   Details of the steps to be taken by storage agencies are as under:

- (i) All godowns are constructed as per specifications.
- (ii) Foodgrains are stored by adopting  proper scientific  code  of  storage practices.
- (iii) Adequate dunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene  sheets  are  used  to  check  migration  of  moisture  from  the floor to the foodgrains.
- (iv) Fumigation covers, nylon ropes, nets and  insecticides  for  control  of stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns.
- (v) Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation)  are  carried  out  regularly  and  timely  in  godowns  for  the control of stored grain insect pests.

- (vi) Effective rat control measures, both in covered godowns as well as in CAP storage are used.
- (vii) Foodgrains in 'Cover and Plinth' (CAP) storage are stored on elevated plinths and wooden crates are used as dunnage material. Stacks are properly covered with specifically fabricated low-density black polythene water-proof covers and tied with nylon ropes/nets.
- (viii) Regular periodic  inspections  of  the  stocks/godowns are  undertaken by qualified and trained staff and all senior officers. The health of the foodgrains is monitored at regular intervals by a system of checks and super checks at different levels. Following Checks and Super checks are conducted in the godowns by FCI to ensure proper preservation of foodgrains in the storage.
- a) Fortnightly inspection of stocks on 100% basis by Technical Assistant.
- b)
- c)
- d)
- Monthly inspection by Manager(QC)
- Quarterly inspection by AGM(QC)
- Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs Squads.
- (xi) The  principle  of  'First  in  First  Out'  (FIFO)  is  followed  to  the  extent
- possible so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.
- (x)  Only covered rail wagons are used for movement of foodgrains so as to avoid damage during transit.
- (xi)  Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional and Zonal  levels to regularly monitor  quality  of  stocks  and  reduce damages.

Similarly, at the time of distribution of foodgrains to States/UTs, there is  a  well  defined  procedure  of  joint  inspection/sampling  of  the  stocks  by State  Government  authority  and  FCI  to  ensure  that  only  good  quality foodgrains conforming to Food Safety Standards are issued under Targeted Distribution  System  (TPDS)  and  other  welfare  schemes.  This department  has  issued  following  instructions  to  Food  Secretaries  of  all State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations  and  FCI  to  ensure

Public supply of good quality foodgrains under the TPDS:

- (i) Only  good  quality  foodgrains  free  from  insect  infestation  and conforming  to  Food  Safety  Standards  are  to  be  issued  under TPDS.
- (ii) Ample opportunities are to be provided to the State Government to  check  the  quality  of  foodgrains  prior  lifting  the  foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
- (iii) Samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to be issued under the TPDS jointly by FCI and State Food & Civil Supplies Department.
- (iv) An officer not below the rank of Inspector is to be deputed from State Government to take the delivery of foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
- (v) Regular inspection to  check  the  quality  of  foodgrains  is  to  be carried  out  by  the  officers  of  State  Government  and  surprise checks are carried out by the officers of Quality Control Cell of the Ministry.
- (vi) It  is  the  responsibility of  the concerned State Government/ UT Administration to ensure that during transportation and storage at  different  stages  in  the  distribution  chain,  the  foodgrains retain the required quality specifications.
- (vii) The State Government, where the decentralized procurement is in operation, should ensure that the quality of foodgrains issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes should meet the desired standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Wherever incidence of poor quality of foodgrains, are brought to the notice,  immediate  action  has  to  be  taken  against  the  officials  found responsible. Trainings are also organized by Government of India for the officials  of  State  Governments/UTs  engaged  in  handling  of  foodgrain  by IGMRI, Hapur & its field stations and Quality Control Cells.

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