MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a), (b) & (c): Some complaints have been received in the Department of Food & Public
Distribution about poor quality of wheat and rice issued for supply under Public
Distribution System (PDS) / Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and other
Welfare Schemes in the last three years including the current year, details of which
are given at Annexure.
Ministry of Women and Child Development which is operating wheat based nutrition programme
under Integrated Child Development Scheme has also reported that they have received
complaints during the last three years from the States of Orissa and Goa regarding supply
of poor quality foodgrains under the Schemes. The Department has asked Food Corporation
of India (FCI) to issue necessary instructions to all regional offices for ensuring good
quality of foodgrains under the ICDS Scheme. The Department of Food & Public Distribution
has also reiterated to FCI the importance of ensuring good quality in respect of all these
Welfare Schemes. Regarding the case of Goa, the Area Manager, Goa has informed that the
stocks were issued under joint inspection to the representatives of Government of Goa and
they had not made any complaint and had also signed the consignees report about being
satisfied with the quality of the stocks issued. Regarding the case of Orissa, FCI has
informed that only Fair Average Quality stocks were issued and certificate obtained from
the State Government’s representatives regarding their satisfaction with the quality of
stocks lifted by them.
Ministry of Human Resource Development which operates the Scheme of Mid Day Meal has
informed that instances of poor quality of foodgrains being received in various schools
in some States had come to their notice during the years 2010 and 2011 when they were
conducting a study through “joint review meetings†for checking the implementation of
Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme in these States. They had brought this to the notice of
Department of Food and Civil Supplies in these State Governments as well as FCI in
their debriefing sessions. Thereafter it was reiterated to the concerned State Government
officials as well as District MDM authorities and FCI officials that joint inspection
should be conducted as per the laid down procedure to ensure that foodgrains being lifted
are of Fair Average Quality.
In the aforesaid case also the Department of Food & Public Distribution has written
to FCI to be extremely vigilant about the quality of foodgrains supplied under MDM
as it concerns the health of children. Regarding the case of West Bengal, FCI has
already investigated the matter and has reported that only FAQ stocks were issued
under MDM schemes in various districts of West Bengal like Kolkata, Burdwan, Malda,
Murshidabad and Hooghli, etc. However, they have assured that they have reiterated
the compliance of existing instructions to various regional and district offices all
over the country for ensuring good supply of foodgrains under the MDM scheme.
(d): 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.
