The Lok Sabha MP from Gurdaspur, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, has written to Karunanidhi Kanimozhi, chairperson, Standing Committee on Client Affairs, Meals and Public Distribution, alleging systemic collapse of Punjab’s meals procurement system as a consequence of deliberate bias by the BJP-led NDA authorities on the Centre.
Highlighting “grave institutional and operational failures” plaguing Punjab’s meals grain procurement ecosystem, the MP has stated in his letter that these points, exacerbated by the apathy of the Authorities of India (GOI) and the Meals Company of India (FCI), have pushed Punjab’s agrarian financial system to the brink of collapse.
“I urge the committee to provoke instant corrective measures and demand that the Union Meals Minister subject an in depth assertion or white paper on the ground of the Home to deal with these considerations,” stated Randhawa.
Storage disaster & FCI’s mismanagement
The MP has identified that as of 2024, the FCI has didn’t evacuate 114 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) rice from Punjab’s godowns, regardless of procuring 124 LMT in 2023-24. Solely 7 LMT was moved, leaving 92 per cent of shares to rot.
De-hiring of storage capability
Randhawa factors out in his letter that the FCI lowered Punjab’s storage capability from 78.83 MMT (2022) to 71.15 MMT (2023), instantly contravening the Personal Entrepreneur Assure (PEG) scheme’s aims.
Rail logistics failure
Randhawa stated in 2024 Punjab sought 1,635 rakes however acquired solely 197, delaying 84.25 LMT wheat and incurring Rs 182.29 crore in avoidable storage fees. In 2024, farmers blocked 74 rail areas, disrupting 20 trains as a consequence of FCI’s refusal to clear shares.
Milling gridlock and arbitrary high quality management
The MP identified the extent of millers’ losses in 2023-24 on account of PR-126 number of paddy. He said that millers incurred Rs 300-500/quintal losses as a consequence of decrease yield. Additionally, the FCI rejected 600 stacks of fortified rice regardless of passing retests, violating SOPs.
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Alleging systemic bias towards Punjab, the MP stated the BJP-led Central authorities’s insurance policies show blatant discrimination. “In 2022, Gol slashed Punjab’s wheat procurement goal by 56 per cent unilaterally, citing ‘low arrivals’, whereas permitting unchecked purchases in BJP-ruled states,” he stated.
Alleging step-motherly remedy, Randhawa stated the FCI delayed SOPs for fortified rice till December 2023, prolonging milling into September 2024 and worsening storage crises. “Union ministers falsely accused Punjab’s AAP authorities of ‘negligence’ whereas FCI ignored PEG tenders for 31 LMT storage enlargement. I urge the committee to direct the Gol and FCI to evacuate stranded shares and clear 114 LMT rice inside 60 days utilizing devoted rail corridors and prioritise Punjab’s rake requests,” he stated.
The MP additionally demanded monetary aid for Punjab and sought waiver of Rs 30,000 crore CCL debt accrued as a consequence of FCI’s delays. “Punjab has fed this nation for many years, contributing 30 per cent of rice and 40 per cent of wheat to the Central pool. The time for empty assurances is over.
Both the Centre rectifies its institutionalised bias, or Punjab’s agrarian collapse will jeopardise India’s meals safety,” he concluded in his letter.
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