FCI refutes New Indian Express report about Meghalaya ‘rice rip-off’, says it’s not concerned with the distribution

On June 15, the Government of India refuted the claims that urged the Food Corporation of India was concerned in a Rice Scam in Assam and Meghalaya. As per the stories, Assam Police busted an alleged rip-off and seized one lakh baggage of rice, weighing 50 KG every, from a personal godown at Boko in Kamrup district. The rice was meant for Meghalaya. The New Indian Express printed a report in regards to the alleged rip-off and asserted that FCI officers might be concerned in it.
TNIE report suggesting involvement of FCI in Rice Scam
MK Gogoi, Executive Director, Northeast, Food Corporation of India, visited DSF Khanapara to analyze the matter and submitted a report. It was discovered that the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, had allotted 3098 MT Rice and 1094 MT wheat beneath the WBNP Scheme for Meghalaya State for the first quarter of the 12 months throughout 2021-22 vide letter dated May 6, 2021. The authorities issued an order to raise the meals grains on 4 cases in May and June 2021.
DM Shillong knowledgeable that the Director of the Social Welfare Department points the meals grains to accepted suppliers for completed merchandise like fortified rice, biscuits and different merchandise. The Department involved additionally knowledgeable that the stated inventory for the provider was obtained.
The report additional stated, “During the visit to FSD Khanapara on 15.06.2021 to investigate into the veracity of the afore-stated media reports, it has been learnt that the said rice had been issued from FSD Khanapara to the nominated State Government of Meghalaya nominee under WBNP scheme as per extant rules and guidelines.” As the inventory was issued, it’s not attainable for FCI to trace the onward distribution beneath PDS or OWS by the nominee because the state is chargeable for such monitoring.
FCI’s involvement within the distribution was restricted to the part the place the meals grains have been delivered to the state. After that, the state has to make sure that foodgrains are reaching the true beneficiaries. The report additional added, “It can be concluded at this juncture that FCI has no role in the said alleged diversion of food grains and that the apprehensions of media regarding FCI’s involvement are devoid of facts and a manifestation of the lack of operational understanding of FCI’s role in PDS mechanism.”
What did The New Indian Express’s report say?
In its report, TNIE alleged the involvement of FCI within the meals rip-off. They quoted Kamrup Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Kalyan Kumar Pathak, saying, “A huge quantity of rice was seized, and we are going by the laws. We have written to the agency concerned. A response is awaited.” Chief Minister Conrad Okay Sangma claimed he had no details about the alleged rip-off. The CM stated if such an enormous amount had gone lacking, it will have come to the discover.
Reports by different publications
The alleged rip-off was initially reported by some native media homes. On June 12, The Shillong Times stated that the Police unearthed the rip-off after locals reported the suspicious motion of 13 vans within the space. It additional added that the police realized that the stated rice was repacked by Maruti Quality Products Pvt Ltd (MQPPL) into the East Sunrise model owned by Continental Milkose India Ltd and provided to Assam Rifles.
East Mojo quoted a police officer concerned within the raid on the godown, saying, “We seized one lakh bags of FCI rice, each weighing 50 kgs, from the godown. The private company was repackaging the commodity in their own brand and then sending it to Meghalaya.” Deepak Agarwal, proprietor of MQPPL and the godown the place the rice was discovered, is absconding.