Streamline grain transport, storage: Thomas

The Union food ministry’s state-level consultative committees on foodgrains today asked the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ensure speedier movement of grains from producing states to consuming states and an early solution of the vexed labour problem to ensure that distribution and transportation of grains go smoothly.

The committees, each headed by a member of Parliament from the state, met on Friday for the first time after a little over 10 years. Officials said the members decided to continue their interaction with the food ministry on a regular basis and meet at least twice in a year.

Food minister K V Thomas, who participated, said FCI had been directed to strengthen its quality control mechanism for storage of grains. Senior officials from the ministry have been asked to undertake field visits to inspect the storage arrangement.