Lok Sabha Question No. 2368 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Procurement of Foodgrains in Punjab
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

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## Ml1{lsTRY OF GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2368

## TO BE ANSWERED  ON 3RD AUGUST,  2O2l

## PROGUREMENT  OF FOODGRAINS  IN PUNJAB

## 2368. SHRIMATI HARSIMRAT  KAUR BADAL:

Will the llVlinister of  GONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIoN  scstrrdr errd, ur<\_u sik  grffi+o  furrur *+ be pteased  to state:

- (a)  whether the  Government has approached  Gentra! Bureau of lnvestigation  (GEl) to nail people indulging  in frauds in procurement  of food grains in Punjab and whether GBI has registered cases against a number of such persons;
- (b) if so, the details  thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has found involvement of officials and Ministers  of the State Government of Punjab in this regard;
- (d) if so, the details  thereof; and

(e)  the steps Government has taken to improve the situation? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND col{SUMERAFFAIRS,  FOOD &  pUBLrc  DTSTRTBUTION (sADHVl NTRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): Yes, Sir.

- (b): Food Corporation of  India (FGl) requested Gentral Bureau of lnvestigation (GBl) on 17.O2.2O21 to conduct enquiry on the irregularities observed in procurement of food grains including in the Joint Surprise Ghecks (JSG) conducted by CBl. The GBI has registered Preliminary Enquiry on 18.O2.2O2{ against Unknown Public Servant(s) and Private Person(s) in this regard,
- (c):  No report in this regard has been received from GBI.

- (d): Does not arise in view of (c) above.
- (e): The following initiatives/measures are taken to by the Government to improve the situation:
- i) Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has been implemented  across the country. DBT of MSP has brought in responsibility,  transparency,  real time monitoring and reduces pilferage in the system.  DBT eliminates fictitaous farmers and reduce the diversion  and duptication of payment  as payment is made directly to farme/s bank account which in many states is linked with Aadhaar number of the farmers. DBT to farmers in  punjab  for procurement of foodgrains  has been started from Rabi Marketing  Season (RMS) 2O2f.22.
- ii) FGI and most of the State Governments have developed their own online procurement  system which ushers in transparency and convenience to the farmers through proper registration and monitoring  of actuat procurement. The online procurement  system has largety eliminated the procurement from middlemen and has resulted in better targeting of the MSP to farmers.
- iii) Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations are given wide publicity through pamphlets,  banners, sign boardsr. radio, TV and advertisements through print & electronic media.
- iv) Farmers are made aware of the quality spgcifications  and purchase system, etc. to facilitate  bringing their produce conforming  to the specifications.
- v) Procurement  centres are opened by respective  State Government Agencies/ Food Corporation of India, taking into account the production, marketable  surplus, convenience of farmers and availability of other logistics / infrastructure such as storage and transportation,  etc. Large number of temporary purchase  centres, in addition to the existing Mandis and depots/godowns are also established  at key points for the convenience of farmers.

Moreover, the State Government  Punjab has informed that the State Government in coordination  with State Police Department had deputed police teams at all States barriers to keep a strict vigil and curb illegat entry of recycled paddy/rice  from other States to the State of  punjab  during KMli 2O2O-21.  Accordingly, 9O FlRs were registered against those indulging in malpractices, .{ 6O trucks & trolleys carrying  paddy from other States were impoundedt 17 licenses of arthiyas and 3 licenses of rice millers were suspended  across the State.

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