CENTRE GIVES 25,000 TONNES OF FREE FOODGRAINS TO BIHAR
The Food Ministry will give 25,000
tonnes of foodgrains free of cost to the Government of Bihar for
distribution among the BPL( Below Poverty Line) families in the
flood affected areas that have no purchasing power even to purchase
foodgrains at subsidized rates. This was announced by Shri Sharad
Yadav, Minister of Consumer Affairs,Food and Public Distribution
who made a detailed assessment of the flood and drought situation
through an aerial survey during the last two days in the State.
The districts covered included Gopalganj,Muzafarpur, Saharsa,
Sitamarhi, Jhanjharpur, Samastipur, Jahanabad, Supaul, Madhepura
and Begusarai.
The minister took a review of the
availability , requirement and movement of foodgrains in the affected
areas with officials of the Food Corporation of India, State government
and District Administration and it was found that foodgrains has
been already made available at BPL rate in adequate quantity in
the State. As on August 5 the Food Corporation of India had a
stock of 2.85 lakh tonnes of foodgrains distributed over 32 depots
in the State. In view of the magnitude of this year’s flood, the
Government of India would consider whether some additional relief
would be given to those families that are marooned and are without
purchasing power even to procure foodgrains at BPL rates.
Shri Yadav directed the Food Corporation
of India to take immediate action to open additional depots at
8 places namely: Gopalganj, Siwan, Jahanabad, Kaimur, Vaishali,
Nawada, Aurangabad and Sitamarhi. The State Government has been
given two months additional time to lift the foodgrains which
was allocated to them under BPL rates but have not been lifted.
To assist the State Government in the movement of foodgrains FCI
is making special arrangements for movement of rakes to Sitamarhi
and Jhanjhanpur.
Government of India has initiated
action to release the second instalment of Rs. 26.36 crore for
2001-2002 and the first instalment for 2002-2003 amounting to
Rs,. 27.68 crore of the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF). This amount
had not been released as information regarding the crediting of
this amount in the CRF account of the State had not been received
so far. The State Government has also sought an advance release
for the second instalment of Rs. 27.68 crore which is also being
favourably examined by the Government of India in the Ministry
of Home Affairs. Shri Yadav urged the State Government to increase
the offtake of foodgrains allotted under various welfare schemes
including TPDS as the percentage of offtake was only 23 percent
in respect of Bihar.
