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The Government on Wednesday set up a high-level committee to recommend restructuring of Food Corporation of India (FCI). The committee will submit its report to the Government within three months, a Food Processing Ministry release said.
The committee, to be headed by former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar, 80, now a Lok Sabha MP, will study various models of restructuring or unbundling of FCI “to improve its operational efficiency and financial management” as well as measures for overall improvement in management of foodgrains by FCI, among others.
“It is commonly perceived that FCI is plagued with several functional and cost inefficiencies, which need to be removed for efficient management of foodgrains and saving costs,” the Ministry said.
The other members of the committee are Chief Secretary, Punjab Government or his representative, Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh Government or his representative, G. Raghuram, Dean, IIM, Ahmedabad, Ashok Gulati, Former Chairman, Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices, Gunmadi Nancharaiah, Dean, School of Economics, University of Hyderabad , Chairman-cum-Managing Director, FCI, who will be Member & Convener and Ram Sewak Sharma, Secretary (Electronics & IT), who will be a special invitee to give inputs on use of technology, said the press statement.
The other terms of reference of the committee include examining the present day administrative, functional and financial structure of FCI and modus operandi of its various operations, define or give suggestions to re-orient the role and functions of FCI in MSP operations, storage and distribution of foodgrains and food security systems of the country, suggest a way forward for strengthening and integration of supply chain of foodgrains, suggest most efficient and cost effective model from the point of view of storage and least cost option of moving grains.
The expert panel will also recommend scientific model of storage, a rationalised mode of moving grains, including tracking of carriage and suggest upgradation of technology in management of foodgrains.
FCI is vested with vital responsibilities of the Government, such as procurement, management of Central pool stocks and distribution of foodgrains to State agencies for various food security programmes.
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