Says grains in-stock not suitable for human consumption
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Sept 1: Government has pulled the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for poor quality of grains in stock that it has been asking the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) to lift for the public distribution, particularly in the North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The Government has, at the same time, refused to lift the stock and has stated that the facts revealed that the food grains in-store with the FCI in Baramulla-around 2330MT-are not up to the mark and not suitable for human consumption.
In a letter that has been sent to the FCI’s Executive Director, North by the Government, it has been underlined that it appears that FCI Authorities are not perhaps “fully aware” about the actual status of this matter, the condition of food grains and their scope to be distributed to the public under Public Distribution System as is revealed by the findings of Deputy Commissioner, Director, FCS&CA Kashmir and the FCI official.
“These claims establish it beyond doubt that the stocks are not worth human consumption and thus not fit for distribution under PDS,” the Government has told FCI.
In this connection, Excelsior had earlier carried a series of reports regarding the matter of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department being compelled to take up the low-quality grains for distribution among the public by the FCI, particularly in Baramulla district.
The Government has stated that with these findings this was a critical issue involving food to be fed to the general public. “It is conveyed that it won’t be possible for the Department to lift above stocks for distribution under PDS.”
Further, the FCI has been directed to have the matter further enquired into for ascertaining facts, including the scope of stock to be distributed under PDS, while keeping in view the above facts brought to the fore by the concerned Deputy Commissioner, the Director FCS&CA Kashmir, FCI official and the local media.
Detailing the matter, the Government stated that the Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs vide his communication no. DFCS&CA/Adm/Tour/B-x-286/Bla dated 31-07-2021 conveyed that on physical examination of the store, “he noticed that most of the ration bags are without any packaging tags and the tags on the remaining bags indicate ‘manufacturing/packaging date of 2015-2016,2016-17 etc.”
As per his observations, the letter read, the Director is not satisfied with the condition of food grains, “because of its discolouration, dull appearance and contamination of the stock with rate faecal matter etc.”
While referring to the FCI’s communication regarding the matter, the Government has stated that the same revealed the view of Deputy Commissioner Baramulla in the matter, “who has expressed unwillingness in the lifting of stocks on the rationale of it being old stock and of dull appearance.”
The officials have said that the matter has also been reported in a section of media very recently here, claiming that stock is an old one and not fit for human consumption.
The Government in its communication has also made a mention of the letter that was written by AG-III (Technical) FCI FSD Baramulla which has also been forwarded by Director, FCS&CA, Kashmir with his report, through which FCI official has conveyed his FCI authorities about the low quality of the grains.
In that letter, it was stated that the stock that is shifted from PEG Baramulla to FSD Baramulla is of old and filled bags of mixed crop year i.e, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17,2017-18 and 2018-19, with most of the bags badly ruptured having white thread stitching or with partial stitching without authorized print and slip on the bags violating FCI guidelines.
“The said stock is dull in appearance and contains dust, so please take this as a serious matter of concern and ensure that the bags that are dispatched follow FCI guidelines,” the letter read.
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