MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SHARAD YADAV )
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.73 DUE FOR ANSWER ON
21-02-2003 IN THE LOK SABHA.
(a) The available information in respect of monetary loss of the Food Corporation of India
(FCI) on account of theft/pilferage in storage and transit of foodgrains (for 1999-2000 and
2000-2001) has been reported as follows:
Year Amount paid (in lakhs Rs.)
1999-2000 40.74
2000-2001 30.23 (Provisional)
(b) The following remedial measures have been taken by the FCI to prevent theft/pilferage of
foodgrains during storage in FCI godowns:
(i) Physical measures like installation of barbed wire fencing of the boundary walls, provision
of light for illumination of godowns and proper locking of sheds to secure the godowns.
(ii) Deployment of security staff of the FCI (as well as Home Guards) for safety of the foodgrain
stocks.
(iii) Deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the State Armed Police at
`vulnerable` godowns.
(iv) Periodic security inspections, as also surprise checks of the depots at various levels to
detect and plug theft/security lapses.
(v) In respect of occurrence of thefts, lodging of FIRs with the local police stations for
investigation of the cases.
The following preventive measures have been intimated by the Railways to prevent theft/pilferage
of foodgrains in transit:
(i) Identification of `vulnerable` points and escorting of goods trains by Railway Protection
Force (RPF) on `vulnerable` sections.
(ii) Intensive beat patrolling in yards and other affected areas/sections by RPF.
(iii) Induction of the CISF at `vulnerable` depots to curb theft and pilferage.
(iv) Special squad checking at selected railhead transhipment and destination/dispatch centres.
(v) Installation of lorry electronics weigh-bridges and their surprise inspection.
(vi) Close coordination between RPF, GRP and local police at various levels to apprehend
criminals and receivers of stolen property.
(vii) Based on criminal intelligence, raids and searches are conducted in the premises of
criminals/receivers of stolen property in order to bring them to book.
(viii) Proper marking and labelling of wagons to avoid their loss/over carriage.
(ix) Use of metal tape on wagons to avoid misdespatches and prevent them from becoming
unconnected.
(x) In order to ensure expeditious tracing and connecting of the consignments which could not
reach the destination within a reasonable time, `Not Received Cells` have been set up on Zonal
Railways.
(xi) FCI personnel have also been allowed to travel in the brake vans of the foodgrains rakes,
as escorts, on payment of fares, as per rules; the FCI have been permitted to affix its own seal,
alongwith the railway seal, as a further safeguard for their consignments.
(c) No, Sir.
(d) Does not arise.
