Question : RICE STOCK IN TAMIL NADU

(a) whether rice stock in the godowns of Tamil Nadu are unfit for human consumption;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to remove this fallacy and provide good quality rice?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )

(a)&(b): No, Sir. As on 1st July, 2001, the damaged rice unfit for human consumption in FCI godowns of Tamil Nadu was 513 M.T., out of a total stock of 9.7 Lakh M.T. , which is only around 0.05%.

(c): The following steps have been taken by the Government to ensure that only good quality foodgrains are distributed:


(i) Ample opportunities are provided to the officials of the State Government / UTs to inspect the stocks prior to lifting from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns.

(ii) Instructions have been issued to all the State Governments /UTs that an officer not below the rank of Inspector should be deputed to check the quality of foodgrains before lifting from the FCI godowns.

(iii) The samples of foodgrains are to be jointly drawn and sealed by the officers of the State Governments /UTs and the FCI from the stocks for display at the counters of Fair Price Shops for the benefit of consumers.

(iv) The Officers of the state Governments` and the Ministry pay surprise checks of the FPSs, to over see the quality of foodgrains being distributed through TPDS.

(v) The officers of the Department designated as ` Area Officers` for monitoring the TPDS work in the respective States also undertake visits to the storage depots and the FPSs, during their visit to the States to check the quality of foodgrains being issued.