States Can Buy Fixed Quota Of Grains Directly From FCI Depots Without Bidding Under OMSS

To meet extra prerequisite of food grains in the midst of COVID-19 episode, the Center on permitted states to legitimately buy a fixed share of wheat and rice from state-run FCI terminals without taking an interest in an e-sell off under the open market sale scheme (OMSS).

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has apportioned a fixed share of 79,027 tons of wheat for eight states and 93,387 ton of rice for six states for this reason, an official explanation said. The designation has been made to meet any necessity far beyond the National Food Security Act and extra allotment under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, it said.

The FCI offers wheat to empanelled mass buyers and state governments through e-barters under OMSS to facilitate the inventory imperatives in the market. "Taking into account episode of COVID-19, aside from ordinary e-sell off, locale justice/gatherers have been approved to lift straightforwardly from the FCI warehouses at OMSS hold cost to take into account the necessities of roller flour plants and other wheat item producers," the Food Ministry said.

Around 79,027 wheat has been apportioned to eight states. Of which, 35,675 tons for Uttar Pradesh, 22,870 ton Bihar, 11,500 ton Himachal Pradesh, 4,190 ton Haryana, 2,975 ton Punjab, 1,000 ton for Goa, 375 for Uttarakhand and 342 ton for Rajasthan, it said. Thinking about the developing circumstance, the administration stated, states have been permitted to take rice under the OMSS at Rs 22.50 per kg without taking an interest in e-closeout.

Up until now, 93,387 ton has been distributed for six states, of which Rs 50,000 ton to Telangana, 16,160 ton to Assam, 11,727 ton to Meghalaya, 10,000 ton to Manipur, 4,500 ton to Goa and 1,000 ton to Arunachal Pradesh. In any case through e-closeout under the OMSS, FCI has gotten offers for 1.44 lakh ton of wheat and 77,000 ton of rice till March 31.

"Indeed, even right now condition, FCI can fulfill the expanding need of foodgrains by outfitting the pace of supply of wheat and rice all through the nation, generally by rail," the administration said. FCI has moved 352 rakes conveying 9.86 lakh ton of nourishment grains since the lockdown on March 24. Complete 53 rakes conveying 1.48 lakh ton were stacked on Wednesday, it said. Till March 31, the FCI had 56.76 million ton of foodgrains, out of which rice was 30.7 million ton and wheat 26.06 million tons.