Question : SHANTA KUMAR COMMITTEE .

(a) whether the Shanta Kumar Committee constituted to review the entire gamut of foodgrains management system in the country has since submitted its report;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the major observations and recommendations made by the Committee;

(c) the present status of the said report and the time by which it is likely to be fully implemented; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to involve private companies in procurement, storage and distribution of foodgrains and shift its role from implementation to regulation and funding and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE)

(a), (b) & (c): Yes Madam. The HLC constituted under the chairmanship of Shri Shanta Kumar has submitted its report on 21.01.2015, the major recommendations are at Annex I. Government is examining the recommendations made by committee and a decision to implement the acceptable recommendations of the Committee will be taken shortly.

(d) The participation of Private Sector is already in place which is engaged in procurement, transportation, milling and storage of foodgrains. A capacity to the tune of 100.17 LMT has been hired from private parties under various schemes such as Private Entrepreneur Guarantee Scheme (PEG), Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS) and general/guaranteed hiring.