Allocation of Foodgrain for Welfare Scheme

The Government of India allocates foodgrains under Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) for Midday Meal scheme, Wheat Based Nutrition Programme, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls-(Sabla), Annapurna scheme & SC/ST/Hostels scheme. Allocations are also made for Welfare Institutions to meet the requirements of beggar homes, orphanages, homes for nari-niketans etc. sponsored by State Governments & concerned administrative Ministries of Government of India. The allocations for the above schemes are based on requirements projected by concerned administrative Ministries based on assessed requirements. The allocations under these schemes are considered adequate as the offtake by the States/Union Territory (UT) Administrations against these schemes are less than the allocation made. However, any request from States/UTs for additional allocations are considered on merits and higher allocations are made where required.

      In the case of Chhattisgarh, the allocation and offtake of foodgrains during the last three years under Welfare Institutions scheme have been as follows :-

(Fig. in tons)

Year	Allocation	Offtake
2009-10*	6,000	369
2010-11	24,000	23,716
2011-12**	34,809	23,574

* Lower allocation due to non-submission of Utilization Certificate.

** 2011-12 allocations include 12,266 tons of foodgrains made for SC/ST/OBC/Hostels based on the request from the State Government and adjustment of unspent balance of 1457 tons with the State Government. Offtake  for 2011-12 is up to February 2012.(Source : FCI)

       

Thus, the offtake by Chhattisgarh is less than allocations made by the Government of India.

The Allocation of foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is being made as per allocation norms. State-wise allocation of foodgrains underthe Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) including ad hoc additional allocation and allocations made under Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) during the last three years is Annexed.

      The current level of stock of foodgrains available in the central pool is adequate to meet the requirement of foodgrains as per existing level of allocations under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).

This information was given by the Minister  of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Prof. K.V.Thomas in a written reply  in the Lok Sabha today

Quality of Foodgrains

Food Corporation of India (FCI) checks the quality of foodgrains prior to procurement. Before the commencement of Rabi and Kharif Marketing Season, uniform specifications are formulated by the Government for procurement of foodgrains under Central Pool. In order to ensure that foodgrains (wheat and rice) are procured as per quality specifications, technically qualified staff is deputed by FCI for procurement. Detailed guidelines and instructions regarding sampling and analysis procedure and inspection to be followed in acceptance of foodgrain stocks are issued by FCI for strict compliance by the field functionaries. Quality control measures to be taken during procurement operations are also issued. Foodgrains are to be procured as per specifications laid down by the Government. Foodgrains are checked by the procuring technical staff to assess its conformity with the uniform specifications. Samples are drawn before the acceptance and all the quality parameters are analysed by the Technical Assistant. As per the procedure, stocks are inspected/checked by the concerned field functionaries of FCI as under :

i) 100% stocks are inspected by Technical Assistant before acceptance conforming to uniform specifications. 

ii) 25% stocks are checked by Manager (QC). 

iii) 10% stocks are checked during inspection by Assistant General Manager (QC). 

iv) 2% stocks are checked during inspection by Area Manager, FCI. 

Besides, special headquarter squads from Quality Control and Vigilance Division of FCI are deployed to inspect the procurement operations. 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Prof. K.V.Thomas in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. 

International Sugar Council meets at Delhi to discuss Sugar Scenario

India is hosting the 41st Session of the International Sugar Council from 24th to 26th April 2012 at New Delhi. Briefing the media persons about the significance of the meet, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prof. K.V. Thomas said that the meet will provide an opportunity to Indian Sugar sector to apprise itself of the latest developments in sugar industry across the world. It will also be an occasion to showcase the Indian sugar sector before the world. 

Delegates from 32 countries and EU have confirmed their participation at the session being held under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.C. Gupta, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India. 

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of Finance, Shri Sharad Pawar, Minister for Agriculture & Cooperation and Food Processing Industry and Shri K.V. Thomas, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution will address the opening session on the morning of the 24th of April 2012. The first day of the three-day session will be devoted to a workshop with the theme “India-Key player in the world sugar economy”. The scientific advances in sugarcane development and utilization, cooperatives as a model for the sugar industry and new trends in the global market will be discussed. A panel of discussion on key improvements/ innovations undertaken in the Indian sugar industry has also been planned. 

Addressing the media person Executive Director of ISO, Dr. Peter Baron said that India by its sheer size the Indian sugar industry is one of the powers in the world sugar economy. Over the last ten years Indian was on average the world’s biggest consumer of sugar and the second largest single producer. He said that due to significant India is at the same time is a market maker. 

Reports of the Market Evaluation, Consumption and Statistics Committee (MECAS) of the ISO covering Alternative Sweeteners, Outlook for Sugar and Ethanol Production in Brazil and Sugar Market Development and Drivers in the Former Soviet Union States are scheduled to be presented on the 2nd day of the session. 

The first day of the session is also open to participants from the Indian sugar industry. The members from the Indian Sugar Mills Association and National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories shall be present for the day-long workshop. 

Ministry of Food Signs an MoU with world Food Programme for Computerisation of PDS

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for scaling up computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) within the country here today. It was signed in the presence of Secretary Food, Dr B.C. Gupta and Director Operation WFP(Rome) 

Modernisation including computerisation of TPDS in the country is enabling timely allocation of foodgrains, biometric identification of beneficiaries, recording of transactions at the fair price shops, tracking of foodgrains, etc. This has brought about a perceptible change in targeting of PDS, elimination of over 2.48 crore bogus/ineligible ration cards and resultant saving of foodgrains. The WFP programme will assist the selected States to expedite their TPDS computerisation programmes and will complement the ongoing efforts being made for modernisation of TPDS by the Government of India and State Governments. 

The MoU provides for development and implementation of additional TPDS Pilot projects based on the WFP model in Rayagada district of Odisha where in partnership with the WFP, Government of Odisha is implementing a pilot project to strengthen the TPDS through use of new ration cards against biometric validation / Smart cards with point-of-sale devices in fair price shops, deduplication of ineligible cards, etc. A project covering Bhubaneswar, Odisha is under preparation by WFP and additional pilot projects would be implemented in consultation with the States, Central Government and WFP. The selection of States under the MoU would include those which have not fully implemented computerization of TPDS. 

Under the MoU, the Department of Food and Public Distribution will facilitate the WFP TPDS computerization programme. It will also provide the necessary information and advise on the programme as well as the selection of States for implementation

Wheat Procurement Touches 22 Lakh Tonnes

Wheat procurement in recently start, Ravi Marketing season 2012-13, has crossed the mark of 22 lakh tonne. Toatal 22,00,609 tonne wheat has been procured by the various Government agencies by April 12, 2012. 

Madhya Pradesh has procured 19,38,754 tonne wheat followed by Haryana 1,68,147 tonne. Rajsthan has also procured 51,487 tonne of wheat while Gujrat procured 21,308 tonne by the date. The procurement in Punjab, major wheat procuring state is expected to pick up after Vaishakhi. 

Additional Allocation of Wheat And Rice to Uttarakhand

The Center has made an additional allocation of 3000 tonnes wheat and 3000 tonnes of rice to Uttarakhand at MSP for Char Dham Yatra which is staring in April, 2012. 

Prof. K.V. Thomas, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has directed his ministry to release the additional quantity of foodgrains to the state immediately. Allocation has been made in view of request received from the State government in this regard.