FCI clarifies
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 23 2019: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has appealed to the public to consider if the issue raised by the food-grains handling labourers is justified or not, and to refrain from creating any disturbance to the functioning of the corporation.

Speaking to media persons at his office at Old Assembly Complex today, Deputy General Manager of FCI Manipur Region, Gongreipou Kamei said that FCI is a public sector undertaking which is working towards ensuring food security in the country and it is engaged in various welfare schemes, apart from National Food Security Act (NFSA).

He then lamented that the attempt by the labourers at the Food Storage Depots (FSD), namely Sangaiprou, to tarnish the reputation of FCI is disappointing.

Gongreipou Kamei explained that in the past, labourers were engaged permanently through Direct Payment System at the Sangaiprou FSD.

During the rationalisation and reorganisation FCI NE region, the labourers from Sangaiprou were sent to Assam while an open e-tender was called for a six month contract (from March to September this year) in case of ad-hoc contract and the contract was awarded to one M/S BK Enterprises.

Employment of the labourers is handled by the said firm and FCI has no relation nor link to this process, the Deputy General Manager clarified.

The contract awarded to M/S BK Enterprises was extended for three more months (till December) and an agreement was signed between FCI and the firm that the contract will be extended upto December 7 or till finalisation of regular contract whichever is earlier.

G Kamei informed that on December 3, an open e--tender was done and M/S NR Mathai Enterprises was selected for a two year contract with FCI (the firm began work from the next day, December 4) .

He then alleged that in the present scenario, the labourers who were engaged by BK Enterprises, are opposing the labourers brought by NR Mathai Enterprises.

G Kamei explained that engagement of labourers depends on the contracts signed and FCI has a no say in this matter.

The said labourers were also not abruptly stopped from their work, as they are well aware of the period upto which they are supposed to work in the FSD as per the contract.

The new contract signed with NR Mathai Enterprises cannot be cancelled as well as it was processed as per proper rules and regulations.

The Deputy General Manager further clarified that the claim made by the labourers that they were not given proper wages, is false and added that there are documents and records to prove it.

G Kamei conveyed that Sangaiprou FSD is the largest and most important depot for the State as more than 70 percent of the total food-grains are provided to the people through this depot.

Explaining that any disturbances to the operation of Sangaiprou FSD will have adverse impact on the whole State, the DGM appealed to all the CSOs, Meira Paibis and the public to consider this fact and refrain from hindering the corporation in any way.

On the other hand, the DGM informed that Food Corporation of India, Manipur has around 23,339 MTs of rice currently and this will be able to last for around two months.

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