Chandigarh, September 24:
The robust procurement mechanism of the Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today came in for huge appreciation from the Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister, Kerala Mr. G.R. Anil who was apprised about in detail about the procurement process and the measures undertaken by the Punjab Government to ensure its robustness.
Apprising the visiting dignitary with regard to the procurement process here at Anaj Bhawan, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Punjab, Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak said that despite being 1.5 percent of the landmass of the country, Punjab contributes about 40-45 percent of Wheat and 20-25 percent paddy to the Central Pool.
Divulging more, Mr. Kataruchak said Kataruchak the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has over 8 lakh farmers, 25000 Arhtiyas, 5000 millers and 500 Labour & Transport contractors registered on the Anaaj Kharid portal. Besides, the J form on the portal contains the names, details, quantity of crop brought to the mandis, land details along with the crop sowing details, added Mr. Kataruchak.
Bringing other salient features of the procurement system to the attention of Mr. G.R. Anil, Mr. Kataruchak revealed that the once the crop of a farmer is procured it is ensured that the same is lifted within 72 hours and the farmer gets payment credited in his bank account in 48 hours. Apart from this, the online gate pass as well as the Vehicle Tracking System is also fully operational in the State of Punjab in order to ensure transparency in the procurement process.
There are more than 14000 Fair Price Shops (FPS) in Punjab which distribute free wheat to the needy beneficiaries under the Public Distribution System in accordance with the mission of ensuring food security under the National Food Security Act, 2013. Every FPS has been provided with e-PoS machines so as to maintain transparency in the wheat distribution. Also, the crops of the farmers are ensured to be procured at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) which in the present paddy season is Rs. 2389 Per Quintal, added Mr. Kataruchak.
Mr. G.R. Anil said that Punjab is rightly known as the Food Basket of the country and especially praised the resilience of the people even amid the heavy floods ravaging the State.
The Kerala Minister was also honoured by Mr. Kataruchak on the occasion which saw the Principal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Punjab, Rahul Tiwari, Director Varinder Kumar Sharma, Additional Directors Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar & Ajayveer Singh Sarao and GM Finance Sarvesh Kumar in attendance.
