Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles and Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, emphasized the pivotal role of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in becoming a trusted partner for both farmers and citizens. Speaking at the 60th Foundation Day of FCI, Goyal highlighted the significance of FCI's contribution to flagship schemes like Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), providing essential ration to beneficiaries across the nation.
Beyond Ration: FCI's Mission for Transparency, Efficiency, and Accountability
While acknowledging FCI's role in distributing ration, Goyal stressed that the corporation must go beyond and instill confidence in farmers and beneficiaries through transparency, efficiency, and accountability. He urged the youth and FCI staff to actively participate in making India corruption-free, aligning with the Prime Minister's commitment to a Viksit Bharat.
Digitization and Technology: FCI's Second Area of Priority
Goyal underscored the need for FCI to embrace digitization and technology to enhance quality in various operational aspects, including inspection, procurement, transportation, distribution, and storage. He proposed strategies such as route optimization, mechanized loading/unloading, and innovative storage solutions to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency.
Effective Price Moderation: FCI's Impact on Essential Commodities
The Union Minister lauded FCI's Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) for effectively moderating the prices of essential commodities like wheat and rice, benefiting consumers. He highlighted FCI's interventions in stabilizing prices for items like Bharat Atta, Bharat Dal, Onion, and Tomato, emphasizing the corporation's role in supporting the Government of India's price stabilization efforts.
Fair Value for Farmers: FCI's Commitment to Prevent Distress Sales
Goyal commended FCI for providing a fair value for farmers' produce, ensuring that distress sales are minimized. He encouraged the corporation to continue strengthening dialogues with farmers and emphasized that FCI has entered the modern era of operations, adopting digitization, streamlining procurement processes, and investing in state-of-the-art infrastructure.
The event saw the presence of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ashok KK Meena, Chairman & Managing Director (C&MD) FCI, and other officers and staff.
