Lok Sabha Question No. 2952 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Expediting Procurement
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Ajay Nishad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MIt{tsTRY OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtc  DISTR|BUT|ON DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AHD PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2952 TO BE ANSWERED  ON {5rr DECEMBER,  2O2'

## EXPEDITING PROCUREMENT

## t2952.  SHRI AJAY ilISHAD!

Will the Minister of  GO}{SUiIIER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD AND PUBLTC DISTRIBUTIoN  rTstrfir erri, urf-t sit{ sr+dfrfi fufi{uf dff be pteased  to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has formulated any action plan to expedite
- the procurement  at the purchase  centres of Food Gorporation  of lndia (FGr);
- (b) if so, the dertails thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government has made any assessment  of  the services/delivery  of the FGI; and
- (d) if so, the deltails  thereof and the outcome thereofi?

ANSUYER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MIiIISTRY OF RURAL OEVELOPMENT  A]ID GONSUMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD & PUBLTG D|STRTBUTTON (SADHVI  I|IRANJAN JYOTI]

- (a) to (d): The Government  alongwith  Food Gorporation  of lndia (FGl) and various States Governments  formulate procurement  plan to expedite  the procurement  of wheat and paddy from farmerc at the purchase centres. The Government,  FGI have taken various steps to improve services/ delivery of FGI and state procuring agencies. The steps taken in this regard are:
- i) Direct Benefit Transfer  (DBT) of MSP has been implemented across the country. This has brought in responsibility,  transparency, real time monitoring and reduces pilferage  in the system. DBT eliminates purchase from fictitious bogus farmers, redsces diversion and duplication of payment as payment is made directly to farmey's bank account which in many States is lin.ked with Aadhaar number of the farmers.

- ii) FGI and most of the State Gbvernments have developed their own online  procurement  system which ushers in transparency and convenience to the farmers through proper registrataon and monitoring of actual procurement. The online procurement  system has largely eliminated the procurement from middlemen and has resulted in better targeting of the MSP to fannens.
- (iii)  The State agencies are also using Expenditure Advance Transfer module (EAT) of Public Financial module System (PFMS) while making payment, as mandated  by the Ministry of Finance, GOI by integrating  their online payment system with PFMS to maintain financial integrity.
- iv) Minimum Support Priee (MSP) operataons are given wide publicity through pamphlets,  banners, sign boards, radio, TV and advettisements through print & electronic media.
- v) Farmers are made aware of the qualaty specifications  and purchase system, etc. to facilitate bringing their produce  contonning  to the specafications.
- vi) 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 lransportation, ete. 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.
- vii) FCI is undertaking Third Paily Assessment of procurement  centrcs across the country. The level of  services provided to  farmers in procurement  centres operated by FGI and State agencies shall be covered in this exercise. Additionally; warehouses owned by FCI are getting certified by WRDA along with.conducting Third Party Assessment of all warehouses of FGI (Owned & Hired).