Lok Sabha Question No. 1653 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Monitoring in FCI
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RAMCHARAN BOHARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1653

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH  MARCH, 2016

## MONITORING IN FCI

1653. SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:

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  there  is  a  regular  monitoring  mechanism  in  the  Food Corporation of India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether monitoring has been done through the said mechanism in the godowns where foodgrains was reported to be spoiled during the last three years;
- (d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) the  reasons  for  damage  to  foodgrains  despite  the  availability  of adequate storage facility?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

(a)&(b): Yes Madam. There is a well established monitoring mechanism in  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI)  to  check  the  quality  of  central  pool foodgrains at the time of procurement, storage and issue.

Before the commencement of Rabi and Kharif procurement seasons, uniform  specifications  of  Rabi  and  Kharif  foodgrains  respectively  are formulated by the Government. FCI ensures procurement of foodgrains in the mandies and at depots strictly in accordance with quality specifications.

In order to ensure acceptance of foodgrains conforming to laid down specifications only, checks/super checks are conducted at various levels in FCI as under:

- i. All  the  stocks  are  checked  by  Technical  Assistants  (TAs)  by following a sampling procedure.
- ii. In case of rice, 25% of the consignments accepted by TAs
3. are checked by Managers Quality Control (QC) on day to day basis.
- iii. Assistant  General  Managers  (QC)  test-check  10%  of  rice  stocks accepted by TAs on a fortnightly basis.
- iv. 2% rice stock accepted by TAs is checked by the Area
6. Manager on fortnightly basis.
- v. Similarly,  Deputy  General  Manager  (QC)  and  General  Manager  of the  Regional  Office  and  General  Manager(QC)  &  Deputy  General Manager  (QC)  of  FCI  Zonal  Offices  also  inspect  depots  to  testcheck the procured stocks.

In  addition  to  the  above,  squads  are  deployed  from  FCI  Hqrs,  Zonal Offices & Regional Offices to ensure that stocks are procured strictly in accordance with uniform specifications.

The  quality  of  foodgrains  in  storage  is  monitored  by  FCI  at  regular intervals  by  a  system  of  check  and  super  checks  to  ensure  proper preservation of foodgrains during storage. These are as follows:-

- (i) Fortnightly inspection of stock on 100% basis by Technical Assistants at depot level.
- (ii) Monthly inspection by Manager(QC) at depot level.
- (iii) Quarterly inspection by AGM(QC) at District level.
- (iv)
- Super checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Headquarter squads.

Similarly, at the time of issue of foodgrains to States/UTs, there is a well defined procedure of joint inspection/sampling of the stocks by State Government authorities and FCI to ensure that only good quality foodgrains are  issued  under  Targeted  Public  Distribution  System  (TPDS)  and  other welfare schemes.

(c),(d)&(e): The monitoring mechanism as detailed above is followed in  all  FCI  godowns.  Procured  foodgrains are stored by FCI in a  scientific manner in covered godowns and in CAP (Cover & Plinth) storage. Scientific codes  of  practices  for  safe  storage  of  foodgrains  are  followed  during storage.  Inspite  of  all  precautions,  some  quantity  of  foodgrains  may  get damaged/ become non-issuable during storage due to various reasons such as storage pests' attack, leakages in godowns, procurement of poor quality stocks,  exposure  to  rains,  floods,  negligence  on  the  part  of  concerned persons  in  taking  precautionary  measures  etc.  In  case  of  negligence  of officers/officials, suitable disciplinary action against defaulters is invariably taken, wherever warranted.

Quantity of central pool foodgrains accrued as damaged/non-issuable in FCI godowns and action taken against officers/officials during last three years and current year is as under:

| Year               |   Quantity accrued as damaged foodgrains (in lakh tons) |   No. of cases against Officers/Officials found responsible for Down- gradation /Damage of stocks |
|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2012-13            |                                                    0.03 |                                                                                                23 |
| 2013-14            |                                                    0.25 |                                                                                                53 |
| 2014-15            |                                                    0.19 |                                                                                                25 |
| 2015-16(upto 2016) |                                                    0.03 |                                                                                                19 |

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