FCI to ensure smooth implementation of Food Security Act in North East

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has said that it will have a fullfledged administrative setup in Guwahati to ensure the smooth implementation of the Food Security Act.

The foundation stone of the FCI administrative building was laid in Guwahati on Tuesday by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in the presence of Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution K.V.Thomas.

The north east region currently has 77 FCI depots with an operational capacity of 468000 metric tons.

Besides this, 20 projects are currently under construction in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

These will augment storage capacity by about 125060 metric tons, out of which 53000 metric tons is likely to be completed by March 2014.

FCI currently inducts 37 lakh metric tons of foodgrains to north east states annually, despite geographical constraints and developing infrastructure.

It also provides remunerative prices to farmers and promotes sports by recruitments and offers of stipendiary benefits to young sportpersons in the area.

Meanwhile, Thomas met food ministers of the north eastern states, including Sikkim, in Guwahati to review the preparedness for implementation of the National Food Security Act.

Various aspects such as strengthening of targeted public distribution system (TPDS); creation of additional storage facilities; doorstep delivery of foodgrains and computerization of TPDS were also discussed in detail, keeping in view the special circumstances of north eastern states in terms of terrain, accessibility, transportation of foodgrains, storage facilities etc.

Food ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura attended the meeting, besides the Prinicipal Secretaries/Secretaries in charge of Food and Public Distribution in all the NE States and other senior officers.

They were informed about the steps being taken to implement the Food Security Act in their respective areas.

It was indicated that the act would be implemented from March, 2014 or latest by the middle of 2014.