FCI sets another record, shuts naysayers – Moved 139 Lakh Metric Tons of food grains between March and June, 5.4 lakh fair price shops distributed grains to beneficiaries under PM-GKAY

 

 

 

While several forces tried to disparage the efforts of the central government and Food Corporation of India (FCI) in gathering and distributing food grains across the country, the government and FCI have set yet another record. During the period between 24th March to 30th June 2020, the FCI had moved a total of about 139 LMT food grains using nearly 5,000 rakes and nearly 14.7 LMT through 91,874 trucks across the country. This record distribution of grains also ensured adequate supply of allocated quantity for remote places, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands where the food grains were moved through ships.

 

The FCI and Central government efforts were ably supported by other entities like the Indian Railways, Shipping corporations, Indian Air Force where all played a crucial role in making these operations smooth and successful. The government has also acknowledged that the employees of the FCI, CWC, CRWC, State Warehouses and State/UT Civil Supplies Departments/Corporation have all worked in perfect coordination to make it all possible.

 

 

The record distribution of food grains to beneficiaries had impeccable planning and execution behind it. A network of about 5.4 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) was utilised across the country, where all precautionary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 protocol, such as social distancing, use of face masks, hand sanitizers, availability of soap and water to maintain hand hygiene, staggered distribution timings, frequent sanitization of ePoS devices, etc were followed in each State/UT, besides use of innovative practices for giving foodgrains to beneficiaries while ensuring social distancing at all times.

 

Despite challenges in biometric authentication of beneficiaries on ePoS devices, many States/UTs like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, etc. ensured biometric authentication of beneficiaries after following requisite safety protocol to ensure rightful targeting of beneficiaries.

 

 

Independent surveys conducted by MicroSave Consulting, Dalberg, etc., in various parts of the country, have shown very high level of satisfaction among the beneficiaries, with regards to the distribution of food grains under PM-GKAY. The programme implementation was rigorously monitored at every level including the Hon’ble Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and all implementation issues of States/UTs were quickly resolved to ensure the success of the PM-GKAY.

 

 

Earlier, in March 2020, pursuant to the announcement of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, the Department had started the implementation of “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY)” for a period of three months i.e. April, May and June 2020, so that the poor and vulnerable beneficiaries under NFSA do not suffer on account of the non-availability of food grains during the unprecedented time of crisis.

 

Under this special scheme, about 81 Crore NFSA beneficiaries covered under both categories of NFSA, namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Householders (PHH), are being provided with an additional quota of free-of-cost foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) at a scale of 5 Kg per person per month, over and above their regular monthly entitlements.

 

Accordingly, on 30th March 2020, the Department had conveyed State/UT-wise total allocation of about 121 Lakh MT of foodgrains (about 40 LMT per month) to all States/UTs and FCI for distribution to all NFSA beneficiaries during the period of three months April-June’ 2020 (i.e. Phase-I of the scheme). As per reports available from FCI, all States/UTs combined have lifted about 118 LMT (99%) of three-month foodgrains from FCI depots/central pool. 

 

Further, all States/UTs combined have reported a distribution of over 111.52 LMT (93.5%) of allocated foodgrains for the period April-June 2020 as per following details:

 

– 37.5 LMT (94%) each in the months of April and May 2020 covering about 75 crore beneficiaries in each month.

– 36.54 LMT (92%) in the month of June covering about 73 crore beneficiaries.

 

 

However, the work of the Central government and FCI was disparaged by certain vested interests. An article in the far left news portal The Scroll claimed that India let 65 lakh tonnes of grains go waste from January to May 2020. The article further said that the grains could have been given to the poor who went hungry due to lockdown. It then insinuated that the government hoarded the grains when people have been ‘dying of hunger’.

 

However, Scroll’s claims turned out to be false as the article misrepresented the facts by construing the procured food grains which were being transported to various locations and temporarily stored as ‘hoarding’. The Scroll’s claims were busted by Food Corporation of India which came up with a fact based rebuttal.

 

The FCI rebuttal called the Scroll’s article as ‘blatantly unfair interpretation’ of the actual stock position and wrong information has been published without making any efforts to check the facts.