Ram Vilas promises full fledged FCI regional office
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 20 2019: Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) Ram Vilas Paswan has assured that a full fledged regional office of Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be set up in Manipur at the earliest.

The Union Minister, who reached Imphal today on a two-day trip, presided a review meeting of FCI operations, PDS computerization and other matters at Hotel Classic Grande.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting was over, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that Manipur already has a regional FCI office but it is not a full fledged one.

Ram Vilas promises full fledged FCI regional office

It has been decided to upgrade the Imphal office into a full fledged one after three months, as a New Year gift to the State in January, he added.

Replying to a query, the Union Minister said that around 81 crore people are being provided rice, wheat and coarse grains at subsidised rates under NFSA.

However, the beneficiaries are selected by the respective State Governments, not the Central Government, he explained.

NFSA was implemented from 2013 and the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014 .

During the last five years, prices of food grains under NFSA have not been raised by even a paisa, he claimed.

The Union Minister explained that the beneficiaries are selected based on the 2011 census data.

A census will be conducted in 2021 and as such, the Central Government cannot increase the number of beneficiaries at the moment, he informed.

Conveying that the State Government sent a proposal for establishing a godown for each district, the Union Minister said that 9 districts of the State currently have FCI godowns but 7 new districts are yet to have any.

It is important to have a godown, whether it be of FCI, the State Government or private players, he explained.

Replying to another query concerning the drought in Manipur, the Union Minister said that there are separate protocol in place to tackle natural calamities and claimed that there is enough buffer stock.

CAF&PD Minister Karam Shyam, CAF&PD Secretary Ravikant, FCI Chairman and Managing Director DV Prasad, CAF&PD officials of the North East region and other Central and State Government officials were also present at the meeting.

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan will inaugurate an FCI godown at Bishnupur tomorrow.