Question : FOOD PROCESSING TRAINING CENTRES

(a) the number of food processing training centres in the country at present, State-wise;

(b) the financial assistance sanctioned/ released by the Government to each centre, State-wise including Maharashtra during each of the last three years and the current year;

(c) whether utilisation certificates are being submitted timely by the above training centres;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether cases of large scale misappropriation of funds by these food processing training centres have come to the notice of the Government; and

(f) if so, the details thereof alongwith the punitive action taken by the Government in this regard, State-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. CHARAN DAS MAHANT)

(a): Ministry of Food Processing Industries had sanctioned 168 Food Processing Training Centres (FPTCs) under Human Resources Development Scheme during the 11th& 12th Plan (2012-13 & 2013-14). The details are at Annexure-I. However, this scheme has been subsumed in the newly launched Centrally Sponsored Scheme- National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) in the 12th Plan. Accordingly, all the States/ UT Governments have been empowered to receive new applications and sanction as well as release funds under the above scheme of the mission during 12th Plan.

(b): The financial assistance sanctioned/ released by the Ministry State-wise including Maharashtra, during the each of the last three years and the current year is enclosed at Annexure-II.

(c) & (d): The utilization certificates are the pre-requisite documents to be submitted to the Ministry before release of subsequent installments of Grant-in-Aid for Food Processing Training Centres (FPTCs) under the Human Resources Development Scheme.These documents are required to be forwarded and recommended to the Ministry by the respective State Governments.

(e) & (f): Any organization/ applicant, seeking the financial assistance for setting up of Food Processing Training Centres (FPTCs) under Human Resources Development Scheme of the Ministry, requires the recommendation of the respective State Governments which is usually after physical verification/ inspection of the centre. Also any further release/subsequent installments for FPTCs from the Ministry is based on the inspection reports received from the State Governments.