FCI gears up to meet State's foodgrain requirements

IMPHAL, Apr 2: Amidst the Nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus, the  Food Corporation of India has geared up its efforts to ensure availability of sufficient foodgrain to meet the additional requirement for implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Manipur, said a statement issued by Deputy General Manager (R), FCI, Regional Office, Manipur.
The total allocation of rice for Manipur under the PMGKAY for the month of April, May and June, 2020 at 5 kg per person which should be distributed to NFSA beneficiaries (AAY + PHH) free of cost is 36,852 MT. This is in addition to regular monthly allocation of 13,507 MT rice under NFSA for the State, it said.
FCI has to deliver to the Govt of Manipur 38,075 MT rice during April for distribution to NFSA beneficiaries in May.  NFSA and PMGKAY June 2020 quota will be issued in May 2020.
Foodgrain are also being issued for Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) like Mid Day Meal (MDM). In addition, on the request of the State Government for allocation of 10,000 MT rice under Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) or OMSS(D), for catering to the needs of non-NFSA beneficiaries, FCI has agreed to release 500 MT rice as of now. More stock may be released after meeting requirements of NFSA and PMGKAY allocations, it added.
Foodgrain requirement of the State are brought by trucks from Jiribam and Dimapur. Transporters and drivers have been playing vital role in this landlocked State. During March 2020, FCI transported more than 19,000 MT rice to the State which normally ships about 15,000 MT per month. At present FCI Manipur region has more than 37,000 MT rice which is more than one month’s requirement of NFSA plus PMGKAY, said the statement.
The FCI also appealed all concerned to allow free movement of foodgrain trucks on NH-2 (Dimapur-Imphal) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) and assist the drivers and handymen for uninterrupted service during the lockdown.