Lok Sabha Question No. 1733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Starvation Deaths
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Santokh Singh Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1733

TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  JULY, 2019

## STARVATION DEATHS

1733. SHRI SANTOKH SINGH CHAUDHARY:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION उपभोक्ता त मल , ाखतद्ा औा तावर्ज�ाका्औता  मं be  pleased  to state:

(a) the  number  of  persons  who  died  due  to  starvation  during  the  last three years, year-wise, State/UT-wise;

(b) the  details  of  the  amount  of  foodgrains  wasted  during  the  said period, year-wise, State/UT-wise;

(c) the reasons for wastage of the foodgrains;

(d) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  substantially reduce this wastage; and

(e) the impact of these steps on the ground, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &

A N S W E R PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI   DANVE  RAOSAHEB   DADARAO)

(a): No State Government/UT Administration has reported any incidence of death due to starvation in the country.

(b) & (c): The  grain  available  with  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI)  is stored  and  preserved  properly.  Food  grains  are  perishable  commodity and  FCI  is  storing/handling  large  quantities  of  foodgrains  over  long periods. Out of these Stocks, some quantities become Nonissuable/rotten due to various reasons like:

- i. Due to Natural Calamities like Cyclone/flood damages.
- ii. Transit damages  viz enroute damage  in wagon/truck due to contamination, wagon roof leakage etc.

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iii. In  some  cases  due  to  negligence  of  officials/  officers,  for  which suitable disciplinary action against defaulters, where ever found guilty, are invariably taken.

The details of the amount of foodgrains damaged during the last 3 years and current year in FCI, state-wise is given at Annexure-A.

- (d): Against total stocks of 741.41 LMT (as on 01.06.2019), the total storage capacity  available  with  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI),  Central  Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and the State Agencies (both owned and hired capacity), is 862.45 LMT (as on 31.05.2019) comprising 739.76 LMT in covered godowns and 122.69  LMT  in  Cover  and  Plinth  (CAP)  storage.  As  such,  there  is  sufficient capacity for storage of central pool foodgrains at the national level.

However, depending on requirement in specific areas and for modernization  of  storage facilities,  Government  implements  the  following schemes for construction of godowns and silos in the country for central pool stock of foodgrains:

- i. Private  Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme: Under this Scheme, which was formulated in 2008, storage capacity is created by private parties, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Government  Agencies  for  guaranteed  hiring  by  Food  Corporation  of India (FCI). A capacity of 142.62 Lakh MT (LMT) has been created as on  31.05.2019.    Under  this  scheme,  no  funds  are  allocated  by Government for construction of godowns and full investment is done by the private parties/CWC/State Agencies. After a godown is constructed and taken over by FCI, storage charges are paid to the investor  for  the  guaranteed  period  of  9/10  years  irrespective  of  the quantum of foodgrains stored.
2. Central  Sector  Scheme  (erstwhile  Plan  Scheme):  This  scheme  is implemented  in  the  North  Eastern  States  along  with  a  few  other States. Funds are released by the Government to FCI and also directly to  the  State  Governments  for  construction  of  godowns.  A  total capacity  of  1,84,175  MT  has  been  completed  by  FCI  and  State Governments  during  the  12 th   Five  Year  Plan  (2012-17).  This  scheme has been extended for 3 years from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020. A total capacity of 49,375 MT has been created by FCI & State Governments
- ii. from 01.04.2017 to 31.05.2019.
- iii. Construction  of  Steel  Silos:  In  addition  to  conventional  godowns, Government of India has also approved an action plan for construction of steel silos in the country for a capacity of 100 LMT in Public Private Partnership  (PPP)  mode  for  modernizing  storage  infrastructure  and improving shelf life of stored foodgrains. Against this, as on 31.05.2019, steel silos of 6.75 LMT capacity have been created.

Steps taken by FCI to minimize damage of foodgrains are at Annexure-B.

(e): There is a decreasing trend in accrual of damage foodgrains in FCI from 2016-17 to 2019-20 which is due to adopting various practices given at point no (d) above.

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## Annexure-A

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b) & (c) OF  THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1733 DUE FOR ANSWERED ON 02.07.2019 IN THE LOK SABHA.

## Region-wise foodgrains stock accrued as Non-Issuable (damaged) in FCI from 2016-17 to 2019-20 (as on 31.05.19)

(Fig. in tonnes)

| S. No.   | Region              | 2016-17   |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 (31.05.19) |
|----------|---------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------------|
| 1        | Bihar               | 0         |      1617 |      3568 |                    0 |
| 2        | Jharkhand           | 0         |        45 |        31 |                    0 |
| 3        | Odisha              | 1         |         0 |         2 |                    0 |
| 4        | West Bengal         | 0         |         0 |        12 |                    0 |
| 5        | Assam               | 205       |       328 |       868 |                    0 |
| 6        | NEF                 | 105       |        92 |        58 |                   19 |
| 7        | Arunachal Pradesh 0 |           |         0 |         0 |                    0 |
| 8        | Nagaland            | 3         |         0 |         0 |                    0 |
| 9        | Manipur             | 0         |         0 |         0 |                    0 |
| 10       | Delhi               | 12        |        14 |         2 |                    0 |
| 11       | Haryana             | 0         |         0 |         0 |                    0 |
| 12       | Himachal Pradesh    | 0         |         0 |         0 |                    0 |
| 13       | & K                 | 0         |         0 |         0 |                    0 |
| 14       | J Punjab            | 8         |       211 |       318 |                    2 |
| 15       | Rajasthan           | 125       |         1 |         0 |                    0 |
| 16       | Uttar Pradesh       | 48        |       243 |       116 |                    8 |
| 17       | Uttarakhand         | 0         |         0 |         0 |                    0 |
| 18       | Andhra Pradesh      | 6         |         0 |         0 |                    0 |
| 19       | Kerala              | 88        |         2 |       113 |                    0 |
| 20       | Karnataka           | 13        |        75 |        53 |                    0 |
| 21       | Tamil Nadu          | 66        |        16 |         6 |                    0 |
| 22       | Gujarat             | 119       |         6 |        19 |                    0 |
| 23       | Maharashtra         | 7963      |        15 |        35 |                    3 |
| 24       | Madhya Pradesh      | 0         |         0 |         5 |                    0 |
| 25       | Chhattisgarh        | 12        |         0 |         7 |                    0 |
| Total    | Total               | 8776      |      2663 |      5213 |                   33 |

(Figs. are rounded off)

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (d)  OF  THE  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1733 DUE FOR ANSWERED ON 02.07.2019 IN THE LOK SABHA.

## STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE DAMAGE/WASTAGE OF FOODGRAINS DURING STORAGE

Foodgrains  procured  by  Food  Corporation  of  India  and  all  State Govts./Agencies  for central pool are stored in covered godowns as well as in CAP  (cover  and  plinth).  During  storage,  following  steps  are  taken  for  safe storage of foodgrains:

- (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 taken.
- (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.  Monthly inspection by Manager(QC).
- c.  Quarterly inspection by AGM(QC).
- d.  Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs. Squads.
- (ix) 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.

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(xi)          Damage  Monitoring  Cells  have  been set up at District, Regional and

Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages. (xii)              Leakage  point  in  the  roof  of  godowns  are  regularly  identified  and repaired. (xiii)      Regular cleaning of drainages in the godown premises ensured. (xiv)            Efforts  are  made  to  ensure  that  there  are  no  seepages  inside  the godowns. (xv)      Efforts are also made to ensure that there is no clogging up of water in the premises of the godowns. (xvi)   Immediate actions are taken to segregate & recondition of the stocks whenever it gets affected.

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