The Centre has lauded the efforts of the Punjab government in improving the procurement system in the state and strengthening the nation's food security.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan, in a semi-official letter to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, has conveyed the Centre's appreciation and acknowledged the recent steps taken by the state government for bringing transparency in the procurement process, especially during the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS), according to an official statement here on Monday.
Paswan also assured the chief minister that he was getting issues raised by Punjab examined by his ministry and by the Food Corporation of India.
The issues related to relaxation from mandatory moisture gain realised on the storage of wheat stored for the purpose of the National Food Security Act, cost of gunny bags and interest charge payable by the central government, the state government statement further said.
The state Cabinet recently approved a decision for the Kharif Marketing Season to seek Bank guarantee from rice sheller to safeguard the interests of the government.
In addition, the state government has decided to monitor the CIBIL score of the miller to gauge the financial health before allotment, the statement said.
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The state agencies and the FCI procured record 126.9 lakh metric tonnes of wheat this year against 116 lakh metric tonnes procured last year.
The state government is all geared up to procure over 200 lakh metric tonnes of paddy this year against 176.6 lakh metric tonnes procured last season, it said.
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