6.1K tonnes foodgrains reported to be damaged in 2010-11: Government

NEW DELHI: The government today said out of the 60 million tonnes of foodgrains distributed in the country in 2010-11 though the Public Distribution System (PDS), only 0.061 lakh tonnes were reported to be damaged.

The total damage reported during 2010-11 was 0.061 lakh tonnes, out of the total 60 million tonnes distributed in the country in 2010-11, Minister of State for Foods and Public Distribution K V Thomas said in Rajya Sabha.

He was replying to questions relating to the poor quality of foodgrains being distributed to the states under the PDS and other food-based welfare schemes.

Thomas said the government has laid down procedures to ensure only good quality foodgrains, free from insect infestation, are issued for PDS and other food-based welfare schemes.

"Ample opportunities are given to the state governments to check the quality of foodgrains prior to lifting the stock from FCI gowdowns," he said.

He, however, admitted that the HRD Ministry, which operates the mid-day meal scheme, had reported instances of poor quality of foodgrains being received in various schools of Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Andhra Pradesh in the last two years.

"It was reiterated to the concerned state government officials as well as district mid-day meal authorities and FCI officials that joint inspection should be conducted as per as the laid down procedure to ensure that foodgrains being lifted are of fair average quality," he said.

To a question on rotten wheat and rice supply to the hill areas of Darjeeling through PDS, Thomas said state representatives were happy with the quality and had signed a "consignee's report as satisfied with the quality and quantity of stocks issued".