MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a)&(b) Yes Madam. Foodgrains under Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) have been released to check rise in their prices in the market and to offload the
surplus stocks of foodgrains out of Central Pool. Foodgrains allocated under the scheme during the last three years and lifting thereof are as under-
(Fig in Lakh Tonnes)
Wheat Rice
Allocation Lifting Allocation Lifting
2011-12 25 11.84 10 0.19
2012-13 100 68.67 5 0.99
2013-14 (as 100 43.71 5 1.09
on 03.2.2014)
Foodgrains released under OMSS(D) have increased the supply of wheat and rice in the open market and moderated the prices and inflation
of these commodities nin the open market.
(c) & (d) No Madam. No such complaints with regard to the irregularities in release, lifting and distribution of foodgrains allocated to the States
for distribution to retail consumers under OMSS (D) during 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 have been received. However, some complaints regarding sale
of wheat to bulk consumers/traders through tenders and sale of wheat to small (private) traders under the OMSS (D) undertaken by Food Corporation of
India(FCI) have been received. The details of the complaints are at Annexure- A
(e) Immediate action is taken by FCI in case of any complaints of irregularities. Field units of FCI are regularly being advised to strictly follow the
laid down guidelines.
