grain
 
GUWAHITI, INDIA — The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has increased its grain storage capacity in the northeastern part of the country to ensure food grain availability under the National Food Security Act,India Todayreported on Feb. 27.

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters that the FCI has increased its storage capacity in the northeast from 4.80 lakh tonnes in March 2015 to 5.62 lakh tonnes as of January 2018 to ensure food grain availability to 81% of the population in Assam, 63% in Arunachal Pradesh, 88% in Manipur and 65% in Mizoram, the newspaper said.

Another 25,000 tonnes of capacity has been added under the Private Entrepreneur Guarantee (PEG) scheme at Sorbhog in Assam, he said.

To improve the public distribution of food grains, Paswan said he has requested expediting the process for having federal and state grain storage warehouses in every district.

Pasawn added that he has sought the setting up of a State Food Commission and grievances redressal system and toll-free helplines. He said the delay in food grains transportation due to funding shortages was remedied following a court judgement that the transportation cost would be paid by those transporting the food grains.