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'Centre prepared to meet T.N. demand for rice'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI June 21 .The Centre has directed the Food Corporation of India to dispose of foodgrains stocks more than three years old within two months.

Addressing newsmen here today, the Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, Sharad Yadav, said the Corporation had a stock of about 10 lakh tonnes of foodgrains which are more than three years old, including 1.5 lakh tonnes in Tamil Nadu. Steps were being taken to auction these stocks.

Claiming that the stock position was extremely comfortable, he said the Corporation had 400 lakh tonnes of foodgrains, including a buffer stock of 243 lakh tonnes. The Centre, he said, was generous in its allocation to States.

Denying that there were hunger deaths in some parts of the country, the Minister said the Centre had despatched about 103 lakh tonnes of foodgrains to 18 drought-affected States. Moreover, the Centre's responsibility was to procure, store and despatch stocks to the States and it was the States' duty to take care of its distribution. However, he admitted that the public distribution system had to be streamlined in some States.

He said the Centre would favourably consider Tamil Nadu's request for allotment of three lakh tonnes of rice to the State in view of the depleting stock level. In the last financial year Tamil Nadu had lifted 20.13 lakh tonnes of rice against the allocation of 25.90 lakh tonnes under the Centrally sponsored schemes. As the State had stopped direct rice procurement from farmers, it depended on the Centre to meet its commitment. He said that the Centre was prepared to fully meet the demand of Tamil Nadu.

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