BOOZE STORED IN FCI GODOWN
In Jaipur liquor has been found stored in FCI godown while several lac tonnes of wheat is laying stacked outside. Shockingly nobody has ever taken note that the wheat kept outside is rotting; it is no longer fit for human consumption and not fit even for the consumption of animals.FCI godown has been rented out to the liquor distributors. Though FCI godowns come under the purview of the Central Govt, the State Govt cannot absolve itself from the responsibility as it collects excise duty on liquor. It is obviously with the connivance of FCI employees and the State Govt employees that the liquor mafia was carrying on their business from the FCI godown.
In India certain section of the society battle poverty and malnutrition every day, deaths due to starvation are often heard, wastage of food grains in such scenario is not only unfortunate but criminal. FCI may boast of excellent storage facilities but the fact remains that storage of food grains by the Govt agency is far from satisfactory; besides damage due to rains tonnes of food grains are consumed by rodents.
The Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has recently admitted in the Parliament that a fair chunk of India’s food grain goes waste. While our Country faces draught in some parts and floods in some others, it is very tragic to note that several lac tonnes of food grains are spoiled due to improper storage facilities. A BJP leader has informed the House that in recent years 1.83 lac tonnes of wheat, 3.95 lac tonnes of rice, 22000 tonnes of paddy and huge quantity of maize was wasted in the FCI godowns due to improper storage. Now the question is if FCI is inefficient in storing food grains can the Govt think of storage by some Private Agency as an alternative?
