Minister of Food and Civil Supplies Saryu Roy cautioned erring ration dealers, officials for ignoring concerns related to security of foodgrains and vowed to take stringent action against people involved in manipulation of stock meant to be distribute under National Food Security Act (NFSA).
In a letter to Secretary of Food and Civil Supplies, Roy said NFSA came into effect from October but security of foodgrains meant for distribution has not been ensured hence remedy to the security issue must be found. The Minister has called a meeting on December 15 to address security concerns and find a solution to the problem. The meeting would be attended by district supply officers, officials of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Food Corporation (SFC).
Roy said the Government is committed to ensure that stocks are not manipulated and direct action would be taken as per the provisions of law against officials found engaged in the act. He added that the Government would recruit dealers afresh if the existing dealers and officials do not take the warning seriously besides initiating police inquiry and similar probe by other departments.
Significantly, Roy penned that the officials who would be attending the meeting must come prepared with facts and figures.
Significant information sought from DSOs include list of beneficiaries with dealers, stocks that reached to them in 10th and 11th month of the current financial and distribution figures for those months, stocks left for the two months, names of transporters and registration number of vehicles besides photo of vehicles.
The Managing Director of SFC has been asked to come with details of stock transfer from FCI warehouse to SFC’s warehouse, details regarding stocks transferred from SFC warehouse to dealers whereas the General Manager of FCI has been asked to prepare details of foodgrains transferred to SFC’s warehouse in 10th and 11th month of the current financial year besides details of vehicle and names of agent present at SFC during lifting of foodgrains.
Roy also emphasised on details of sugar, kerosene distribution, paddy procurement and purchase of equipments such as tablets, weighing machines, GPS devices made by the department.
Roy said if the secretary believes that the information sought for the meetingwould take time then the meeting could be postponed for one week, however, the information has to be furnished without fail. He also sought verification of foodgrains distributed against the old ration cards.