GUWAHATI, April 17 - As part of its effort to ensure supply of basic essentials to the people of this region during the ongoing nationwide lockdown, State-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) has set a record in transportation of foodgrains to the North East in the first half of April.
�During the first fortnight of April, FCI has already inducted more than 3.5 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of foodgrains, which is an all-time record of transportation to the North East. All states of the North East are lifting the foodgrains from FCI to supply under National Food Security Act (NFSA), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) and other schemes of the Government of India and during the first fortnight of April 2.3 lakh MT of foodgrains have been lifted from FCI for further distribution through their channels,� said an official.
He said that FCI, the government�s nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains, is catering to the requirements of all the northeastern states and maintaining an adequate supply chain in this part of the country during the current emergency situation.
�We are committed towards smooth and uninterrupted supply of foodgrains in the North East under the Public Distribution System and other welfare schemes of the Government of India. We are also supplying wheat and rice in the open market to control the market price as part of the intervention scheme,� the official said.
He added that as on date 4.8 lakh (MT) of rice and wheat are available in the godowns of FCI in the North East zone and another 1.3 lakh MT are enroute to this region.
