Emphasizing the need for construction of high-tech go-downs in the state, Member Parliament, Mehbooba Mufti today asked Food Corporation of India (FCI) to formulate a proposal for construction of two Silos (modern go-downs) of 50,000 MT capacity for funding from the Centre.She said these Silos would be set up near railway line in both provinces to stock adequate food-grains especially to meet the requirements in winter season, during natural calamities and other emergencies.Chairing State Level Consultative Committee (SLCC) meeting of Food Corporation of India here today, the MP impressed upon the FCI to establish additional storage capacity in every district under Private Entrepreneur Guarantee scheme (PEG) with fair geographical distribution to cover every nook and corner of the state. She asked them to build these stores as per the futuristic requirements.In order to take benefit of procurement and minimum support price, Mehbooba directed FCI to set up permanent mandis in food surplus districts in coordination with CA&PD and Agriculture Departments and concerned PRIs for timely off-take of grains from both the provinces. She said this would help in improving financial condition of the farmers besides providing them a platform for selling their crops at better rates.
Mehbooba asked FCI to ensure early filling of vacancies in the corporation as staff scarcity adversely affects the public distribution system in the state.
Regarding end-to-end computerization of CA&PD Department, the MP asked the concerned to complete the first phase of the project this fiscal to modernize the entire supply chain.Minister of CA&PD and Tribal Affairs Ch Zulfkar Ali was also present in the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, Zulfkar said for effective public distribution system FCI and CA&PD Department need to synergize their efforts for timely implementation of end-to-end computerization. He called for organizing of awareness camps for the consumers regarding consumer rights like DBTL, Home delivery of LPG etc. He instructed the concerned authorities for covering all CA&PD and FCI stores with Management Information System (MIS) to track movement of supplies chain to reduce pilferage of food-grains.
Zulfkar directed concerned authorities to conduct regular inspection of FCI and CA&PD go-downs and submit report to the concerned so that corrective measures are taken promptly.Other issues deliberated in the meeting included timely procurement and distribution of food-grains, prevention of transit and storage losses, effective sale and disposal of stocks and expediting the printing of ration cards.Secretary CA&PD, General Manager FCI, Director CAPD Kashmir, Director CA&PD Jammu besides representatives of SLCC and senior officers of CA&PD attended the meeting.