Question : FOOD BANK CORRUPTION

(a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item captioned `Anna Bank Yojana Bhrashtachar Ki Bhent Chadhi` appearing in `Rashtriya Sahara dated 3 November, 2002;

(b) the facts of the matter reported therein;

(c) the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(d) the stringent measures being taken by the Government against the guilty officers in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JUAL ORAM):

(a) to (d) The Government is aware of the news-item as referred to in the question. The news-item refers to the Grain Bank Scheme and states that the food grains meant for the tribal are sold in the open market and the tribal are fed with substandard good grains. However, no complaint has been received in this Mintstry.