FCI Warehouses: Rotten Hub?

     Government of India procure Grain from farmers through its agencies, every year to export, meet the demand of citizens of country and store in the warehouses, but as per news every year because of lack of proper facilities in the warehouses multi million tons of grain, rice and paddy turns into rotten and not safe for living beings, thus wastage of money and grain, it may be because of negligence of officers, corrupt officers or poor infrastructure, need thorough investigation as it not happened once but reports keep on pouring year after year. It is wastage of government money of multi billion of rupees, in a country where score of people not have access of two times quality full stomach food and dying because of hunger, plus prices’ of grain and rice are very high because of huge difference between demand and supply. All it shows inefficiency of government and its concerned ministry of Food and Agriculture.
      As per information in the year 2008, Food Corporation of India (F.C.I.) had accepted that in their godowns 1.83 lakhs ton grain, 3.95 lakhs ton rice and 22,000 ton paddy were ruin during past five years. After this shocking revelation of F.C.I., Mr. Anand Kumar member of Parliament in the house had asked question from Food and Agriculture minister MR. Sharad Pawar, “If his ministry is going to take action against responsible officers who are unable to take care of food items.” In reply Mr. Sharad Pawar said that he will take action against it. When no action was taken then on 6th January, 2010, R.T.I. expert Mr. Ashish Bhattacharya seek an information under R.T.I. act from Food and Agriculture ministry, “What action government has taken against the question and how much grain rotten further in the godowns of F.C.I.? Shocking information received by Mr. Bhattacharya in which ministry accepted that until 1st January,2010 total 14,088 metric ton food items ruined further in the warehouses of F.C.I. Along with it ministry also forward stats of different zone –
East Zone – 1,010 ton grain
                     1,506 ton rice
                     54 ton paddy
North east Zone –  53 ton grain
                                6,80 ton rice
North Zone -  73 ton grain
                        4,648 ton rice
South Zone –  6 ton grain
                        71 ton rice
West Zone – 1434 ton grain
                      164 ton rice
                        81 ton paddy

       as per words of Mr. Bhattacharya in the Government reply after 4rth August,2009, the day when Mr. Anand Kumar asked question, total 2576 ton grain, 7069 ton rice ruin in the warehouses of F.C.I. and in it 2083 ton rice from Punjab and West Bengal’s 757 ton another food items are not included. Courtesy R.T.I. Act shocking declaration make by ministry of food and Agriculture and Food Corporation of India, when all round inflation is spilling fire of higher prices, people are unable to meet there daily demand of food with ease, the godowns of FCI are becomes place of rotten machine.

      Few months ago, news becomes highlight of news channels when in jaipur in the godown of FCI food items were laid in open without roof, but liquor stored inside. So everything is not correct in the domain of FCI and it needs thorough overhaul, how and which way it has to be look by concerned ministry? Tainted officers should be punish heavily so that it should be lesson for other officers and valuable assets should be utilize properly and money spent on to food items serve its purpose.