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 01st 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.
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(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.
(vii) 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 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.
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ANNEX-I
ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF STARRED QUESTION NO 225 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15th 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 01ST DECEMBER, 2015.
State
Complaint
Action Taken by the Government
NCT, Delhi
Maharashtra
Jammu & Kashmir
A complaint was received from Indraprastha Welfare Association, New Delhi regarding Supply of poor quality of foodgrain in Moti Nagar, area of Delhi
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
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
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.
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..
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ANNEX-II
ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF STARRED QUESTION NO 225 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15th 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.
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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.
Above 1% and upto 4%
C.
Above 4% and upto 7%
D.
Above 7% 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.
RICE
CATEGORY ‘A’ DAMAGED GRAIN DISCOLOURED GRAIN
Raw rice Upto 3% Upto 3%
Parboiled rice Upto 3% Upto 3%
CATEGORY ‘B’
Raw Rice above 3% upto 4% above 3% upto 5%
Parboiled Rice above 3% upto 4% above 3% upto 5%
CATEGORY ‘C’
Raw Rice above 4% upto 5% above 5% upto 7%
Parboiled Rice above 4% upto 5% above 5% 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.
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