Lok Sabha Question No. 225 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-15
Subject: Poor Quality Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RAMA DEVI, RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 225

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## POOR QUALITY FOODGRAINS

*225. SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: SHRI RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY:

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 Government has received complaints regarding supply/ distribution  of  poor  quality  foodgrains  under  the  Public  Distribution System (PDS), if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)   whether  guidelines  have  been  issued  to  ensure  distribution  of quality  and  standard  foodgrains  under  PDS,  if  so,  the  details  and  the compliance status thereof;
- (c)   whether  the  Government  has  received  any  complaint  regarding swapping of good quality foodgrains issued by the Food Corporation of India,  with  poor  quality  foodgrains,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the corrective steps taken in this regard; and
- (d)   the  steps  taken  to  ensure  supply/distribution  of  good  quality foodgrains under PDS?

A N S W E R

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  THE STARRED QUESTION NO 225 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 15.12.2015 IN THE LOK SABHA.

- (a):  Three  complaints  about  supply  of  poor  quality  foodgrains  under Public  Distribution  System  (PDS)  have  been  received  in  the  Department during 2015-16 upto 01 st  December, 2015. Details of the complaints and action taken by the Government are at Annex-I.
- (b):  The  guidelines  to  distribute  quality  foodgrains  have  been  issued. Details of the same are at Annex-II. Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Governments are complying with the guidelines.
- (c):  No Madam, complaint about swapping of good quality of foodgrains issued by (FCI) with poor quality of foodgrains has not been received.

(d):  The following steps are being taken to ensure supply/distribution of good quality foodgrains under the PDS:

- (i) Only  good  quality  foodgrains  free  from  insect  infestation  and conforming to Food Safety Standards are issued under PDS.
- (ii) Ample opportunities are provided to the State Government to check the quality of foodgrains prior lifting the foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
- (iii) Samples of foodgrains are collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains  to  be  issued  under  the  PDS  jointly  by  FCI  and  State Governments/UT Administrations to check that the foodgrains that are issued from the godowns are the same quality.
- (iv) Instructions  have  been  issued  to  State  Governments  to  depute officers  not  below  the  rank  of  Inspectors  to  take  delivery  of foodgrain stocks from FCI godowns.

- (v) Regular  inspections  of  fair  price  shops  to  check  the  quality  of foodgrains are carried out by the officers of State Government.
- (vi) Since, it is the responsibility of the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations to ensure that during transportation and storage at different stages in  the distribution chain,  the  foodgrains  retain  the  required  quality  specifications, State  Governments  are  instructed  time  and  again  to  carry  out necessary monitoring.
- The  State  Government,  where  decentralized  procurement  is  in operation, are instructed to ensure that the quality of foodgrains issued  under  PDS  and  other  welfare  schemes  should  meet  the desired standards under the Food Safety and Standards Authority
- (vii) of India (FSSAI).

Wherever  incidences  of  distribution  of  poor  quality  of  foodgrains  to consumers are brought to the notice, immediate action is taken against the officials found responsible.

******

ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF STARRED QUESTION NO 225 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 th  DECEMBER, 2015 IN LOK SABHA.

DETAILS  OF  THE  COMPLAINT  RECEIVED  AND  ACTION  TAKEN  REGARDING SUPPLY  OF  POOR  QUALITY  OF  FOODGRAINS  UNDER  PDS  DURING  2015-16 UPTO 01 ST  DECEMBER, 2015.

| State           | Complaint                                                                                                                                                                                             | Action Taken by the Government                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| NCT, Delhi      | A complaint was received from Indraprastha Welfare Association, New Delhi regarding Supply of poor quality of foodgrain in Moti Nagar, area of Delhi                                                  | The complaint was got investigated by deputing an officer of the Ministry. The complaint was not found to be true based on the samples collected from Fair Price Shops and FCI Godown.                                                                                 |
| Maharashtra     | A Complaint received from Secretary, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, Govt. of Maharashtra regarding supply of luster loss wheat from FCI base depot, Jalgoan and MSWC, Nanded | Instructions were issued to all State Governments to accept the luster loss wheat procured during RMS 2015-16 under the relaxed specifications as luster lost wheat is as nutritious as sound wheat only shining is less and the quality of wheat is intact and good.. |
| Jammu & Kashmir | A Complaint was received from Director, Consumer Affair & Public Distribution. Government of Jammu & Kashmir regarding Supply of below standard quality wheat under wheat relaxation scheme           | -do-                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |

***

## ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF STARRED QUESTION NO 225 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 th  DECEMBER, 2015 IN LOK SABHA.

## GUIDELINES  TO  ENSURE  GOOD  QUALITY  FOODGRAINS  TO  BE  SUPPLIED  UNDER PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

All  stocks  of  foodgrains  (wheat  and  rice)  stored  under  Central  Pool  shall  be  divided  into  two categories:-

- (i) Issuable stocks : Fit for human consumption within Food Safety and

Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) standards.

- (ii)   Non-Issuable stocks   : The stocks containing damaged grains above 6% in case of wheat and 5% in case of rice shall be treated as Non-Issuable stock, unfit for human consumption.

2. Issuable Stocks   :

These shall be categorized under two heads:

- (a) Ready stocks:    These stocks of wheat and rice may be issued under PDS and other welfare schemes of Government of India.
- (i) Wheat:    Stock of A and B categories conforming to FSSAI standards and free from insect infestation having foreign matter upto 1% including inorganic foreign matter upto 0. 5%.
- (ii)  Rice: Stock  of  A,  B  &  C  categories  conforming  to  FSSAI  standards  and  free  from  insect infestation.  These stocks may be issued under the PDS and other Welfare Schemes of the Govt. Of India, provided the refraction are upto 20% in excess of the Uniform Specifications of  the  relevant  marketing  season  in  respect  of  broken  grains,  chalky  grains,  red  grains, dehusked grains and the incidence of foreign matter does not exceeded 1% including rice bran. Inorganic foreign matter should not exceed 0. 5%. (Categorization of wheat and rice is at para-3 below).
- (b) Upgradable stocks :  All stocks of wheat and rice other than ' Ready stocks' but containing damaged grains within FSSAI standards shall form part of upgradable stocks:
- (i) The quality of these stocks should be thoroughly examined by a Committee comprising of officers from Quality Control, finance & Accounts wings at appropriate levels to certify that these stocks are not conforming to 'Ready stock' and not falling in the category of 'Non-Issuable' stocks.
- (ii) These  stocks  may,  wherever  possible,  be  upgraded  by  manual  methods  i.e.  cleaning, reconditioning etc. under the supervision of Quality Control officers.

Such upgraded wheat and rice after certification by Quality Control officers regarding its fitness may be issued under PDS and other welfare schemes of Government of India.

## 3. Categorization of wheat and rice during storage

## Wheat

The basis of categorization is by volume cum count method.  From out of the sieved sample, 20 cc of representative sample may be measured out with the help of a measuring cylinder.  This quantity  shall  then  by  analysed  on  a  enamel  plate  for  categorization  of  the  stock.    The  weevilled grains as well as the touched/germ eaten grains shall be picked out and measured separately.  If the percentage of weevilled grains alone by volume goes beyond 3.5% then the percentage of weevilled grains should be determined by count.

| Category   | Percentage of weevilled grains   |
|------------|----------------------------------|
| A.         | Upto 1%                          |
| B.         | Above1% and upto 4%              |
| C.         | Above4% and upto 7%              |
| D.         | Above7% and upto 10%             |

Note: Touched/germ eaten grains though are not to be considered for categorization purposes but it shall be taken into account for the evaluation of the performance of the technical personnel responsible for the preservation of the stocks.

| CATEGORY 'A'   | DAMAGED GRAIN   | DISCOLOURED GRAIN   |
|----------------|-----------------|---------------------|
| Raw rice       | Upto 3%         | Upto 3%             |
| Parboiled rice | Upto 3%         | Upto 3%             |
| CATEGORY 'B'   |                 |                     |
| Raw Rice       | above3% upto 4% | above3% upto 5%     |
| Parboiled Rice | above3% upto 4% | above3% upto 5%     |
| CATEGORY 'C'   |                 |                     |
| Raw Rice       | above4% upto 5% | above5% upto 7%     |
| Parboiled Rice | above4% upto 5% | above5% upto 7%     |

## CATEGORY 'D'

Lot  showing  appreciable  quantity  of  loose  bran  (more  than  0.5%)  or  giving  unpleasant  smell  in respect of raw and parboiled rice.

'D' category rice should be issued after cleaning where necessary.