(a) whether the Government has prepared any action plan for
removing lapses from the system relating to procurement and
storage of foodgrains for
implementing the food security scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the measures proposed by the Government for checking revenue
loss caused to the Government because of delay in supply of rice by
the rice mills processed out of the paddy procured by the Government?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b): Before the start of every marketing season, Government
convenes a meeting of State Food Secretaries, Food Corporation of
India and other stake holders to prepare a detailed action plan for
making the arrangements of procurement in the ensuing marketing season.
Details of number of procurement centres to be opened and arrangements
like purchase of packaging material and storage space etc. are discussed
in the meeting. Review is made from time to time on the need of additional
procurement centres if any. During the procurement season, the required
additional procurement centres are also opened. Lifting of foodgrains
by States and Union Territories is also reviewed from time to time.
(c): From Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2012-13 onwards Government
has laid down clear-cut guidelines indicating the timelines for delivery
of rice in Central Pool and for giving extensions for completing the
deliveries by the State Governments. In case, any State government fails
to deliver the Custom-milled Rice (CMR) / levy rice by the cut-off date
finally set for that State, it will have to recover the losses incurred
due to non-delivery of CMR from the concerned millers and will have to
dispose off the CMR delivered late by the millers on its own and bear
the consequential losses, if any.