MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): Food Corporation of India (FCI) has informed that no complaint of storage of rotten/ poor
quality foodgrains has been received from any State. However, 4 complaints have been received
during the current year 2011-12 from State Governments of Odisha, West Bengal and Goa regarding
supply of poor quality foodgrains to States which are as under;
(i) Government of Odisha complained about supply of poor quality wheat under Wheat Based
Nutrition Programme in the State. FCI has informed that only fair average quality (FAQ) stocks
were issued out and a certificate was also obtained from State Government in this regard.
(ii) Government of West Bengal complained about poor quality rice supplied under Mid Day
Meal(MDM) scheme in the districts of Kolkatta, Burdwan, Malda, Murshidabad and Hoogly. State
Government has also complained about poor quality of rice received ex-Chhattisgarh at FSD Bikna
under Bankura district. FCI has informed that only FAQ stocks were issued out and
simultaneously the rice stocks at FSD Bikna was investigated and found the stock under “Câ€
category which is ready stock, can be issued out to Public Distribution System (PDS) and other
welfare schemes through normal channel.
(iii) Government of Goa complained about supply of poor quality of wheat and rice under Wheat
Based Nutrition Programme at Sada Vasco godowns in Goa State. FCI has informed that the stock
was issued to the representative of Govt. of Goa without any complaint and the representative
has also signed a consignee’s report as satisfied with the quality & quantity of stocks issued.
(b), (c) & (d) There are set procedures to check the quality of foodgrains during storage and
before issue to the States for distribution under PDS and other welfare schemes. Following
checks are conducted by FCI in the godowns to ensure proper preservation of foodgrains in
storage:-
(i) Fortnightly inspection of stocks on 100% basis are done by Technical Assistants for
declaring categorization & classification.
(ii) Monthly inspection of 33% of stocks (1/3rd of stocks) are conducted by Manager (QC).
Monthly inspection reports (MIR) of Manager (QC) are scrutinized at Zonal level.
(iii) Quarterly inspections are carried out by AGM (QC). The following inspection schedule is
prescribed for AGM (Quality Control):-
- 1/3rd of depots in a month so as to cover all the depots in the district in three months.
# 5% of stocks are to be checked in a depot having capacity of more than 25000 tons.
# 10% of stocks in respect of depot having less than 25000 tons.
# Squad Inspection Reports (SIR) of AGM(QC) are scrutinized in FCI Hqrs.,
For safe and scientific storage of foodgrains to monitor the quality and to avoid
damages in Covered and Cover & Plinth(CAP) storage, Ministry has issued instructions to all
State Governments/UT Administration and Food Corporation of India from time to time to take
required measures. Such instructions to all State Governments/UTs and FCI have been reiterated
on 6.7.2011. These measures include continuous monitoring of quality of foodgrains during
procurement, storage and distribution, to follow code of practices for safe storage in covered
and CAP storage and to take all precautionary measures like prophylactic and curative treatment
for insect pest control, regular periodic inspection of stocks to assess the quality etc.
In order to ensure that only good quality foodgrains free from insect infestation are
issued for public distribution system (PDS) as well as all other food based welfare schemes,
following procedures has been laid down and instructions issued from time to time to State
Governments/FCI :-
(i) Only good quality fooodgrains free from insect infestation and conforming to PFA
Standards are to be issued under TPDS.
(ii) Ample opportunities are to be provided to the State Government to check the quality of
foodgrains prior to lifting the foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
(iii) Samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to
be issued under the TPDS jointly by FCI and State Food & Civil Supplies Department.
(iv) An officer not below the rank of Inspector is to be deputed from State Government to
take the delivery of foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
(v) Regular inspection to check the quality of foodgrains is to be carried out by the
officers of State Government and surprise checks are carried out by the officers of Quality
Control Cell of the Ministry.
(vi) It is the responsibility of the concerned State Government/ UT Administration to
ensure that during transportation and storage at different stages in the distribution chain,
the foodgrains retain the required quality specifications.
(vii) The State Government, where the decentralized procurement is in operation, should
ensure that the quality of foodgrains issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes meet the
desired standards under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
