By- KAMEI GONGREIPOU)
Do. General Manager(Region),FCI, Manipur Imphal
The inherent challenges in running of the largest food grain supply chain management operation in the world increases exponentially specially in NE States due to geographical extremities, remote location and developing infrastructure. However, FCI in all seven states of NE has risen to the occasion and has ensured optimum movement and distribution of stocks in the interest of fulfilling the food grains requirement of the 7 (seven) States.
The entire workforce of FCI in NE States, under the overall guidance of D. V. Prasad, I.A.S, Chairman & Managing Director, has delivered unprecedented results across the various spectrum of operations. During the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, during April-June 2020, FCI has been able to induct a whopping 12.47 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of food grains across its various locations in North-East, handling a record number of 442 rakes during the aforesaid period. As on 16.07.2020, 2.13 LMT has already been inducted in NE Zone for the month of July 2020.
It may be appreciated that various Districts in the State of Assam has been under various degrees of lockdown regimes due to burgeoning Covid cases.
However, with an induction and stock building being monitored closely by the Executive Director (NE) and senior officers of FCI NE Zone, godowns of FCI in the State of Assam has been adequately filled. As on 15.07.2020, a record 3.80 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) food grains are stocked in FCI depots across the State of Assam with a phenomenal capacity utilization of around 95%. This has greatly bolstered FCI’s capability to meet any emergent PDS requirement in the State.
In the month of March 2020, the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY)” was launched by Government of India, through which additional free-of-cost food grains (Rice/Wheat) at the scale of 5 Kg per person per month were provided to about 81 Crore beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), so that poor and vulnerable families/beneficiaries are able to access food-grains easily without facing any financial distress. Under this programme initially, free food-grains for three months i.e. April, May and June were provided. 100% lifting of food grains was registered by NE States under the scheme and 5.23 LMT was thus lifted.
Subsequently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister had approved further extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) as a part of Economic Response to COVID-19 for additional allocation of food-grains from the Central Pool for another 5 (five) months from July to November, 2020. The allocations under PMGKAY for the NE States for the period July to November 2020 are given in the box:
As on 15.07.2020, around 5.75 Lakh Metric Tonne food grains are available in the various depots of FCI in NE Zone with a phenomenal capacity utilization of around 93%. As such, there is sufficient food grains to meet the month-wise requirements of the NE States under PMGKAY scheme along-with the regular NFSA and Other Welfare Schemes like MDM etc. Further, a robust system of dynamic planning of rake is in place so that stocks can be inducted as per requirement.
FCI has ensured continuous uninterrupted supply of food grains across the country during these tough times by undertaking operations with the full support of Indian Railways, agencies like Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), State Warehousing Corporations (SWC) and FCI employees, labour and other stakeholders. The same preparedness and zeal would be continued in letter and spirit till the Nation emerges victorious in its battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.