FCI godowns will be opened in all districts of north-eastern states — Paswan

NE states asked to implement depot online system of FCI

Our Correspondent Imphal, Sep. 21 (EMN): Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distributions (CAF&PD) Ram Vilas Paswan said Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns will be opened in all the districts of the entire north-eastern states according to the availability of the land. Speaking at the inaugural function of a food storage depot at Bishnupur district of Manipur on Saturday, the union minister informed that as per the present status of the National Food Security Act, Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland are doing well in ration cards among the north-eastern states. Paswan was here since Friday on his two-day maiden visit to Manipur after becoming union minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distributions. On Friday, September 20, the union minister chaired a review meeting on FCI operations, Public Distribution System (PDS) computerisation, procurement and other related matters of north-eastern states at a hotel in Imphal. During the meeting, he directed that the depot online system of FCI should be implemented in the north-eastern states. Reviewing the position of storage capacity, its utilisation, allocation under National Food Security Act and lifting of food grains, he also sought active participation from all the states in creation of new storage capacities by identifying/offering suitable lands for construction of godowns so that the production and PDS operations go smoothly. Later, addressing a press conference, Paswan informed that the ministry is planning to upgrade the existing FCI office in Imphal into a full-fledged regional office from next year besides opening a food storage depot at Churachandpur, a hill district headquarters, 65 km south of Imphal. Ministry of CAF&PD Secretary Ravikant, FCI chairman and managing director DV Prasad and Food secretaries of north-eastern states also attended the review meeting.