FCI to adopt zero tolerance for corruption: Piyush Goyal
Food Minister Piyush Goyal has warned that those involved in corrupt practices in the Food Corporation of India will not be spared. To drive home his point, he dubbed the CBI investigation into alleged corruption in the FCI as a "wake-up call" for the state-owned firm. Goyal said this in his inaugural address at the 59th Foundation Day of the FCI in New Delhi on Saturday
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Food Minister Piyush Goyal has warned that those involved in corrupt practices in the Food Corporation of India will not be spared.
To drive home his point, he dubbed the CBI investigation into alleged corruption in the FCI as a "wake-up call" for the state-owned firm.
Goyal said this in his inaugural address at the 59th Foundation Day of the FCI in New Delhi on Saturday.
The FCI - the government's nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains - would follow the principle of zero tolerance for corruption, the minister said.
Goyal said it is a wake-up call for the organisation and added that those found involved in corrupt practices will not be spared.
He was referring to the ongoing probe into the alleged cases of corruption in the FCI.
Goyal said the FCI will follow the principle of zero tolerance for corruption and there is a need to ensure that there is not a single corrupt employee in the FCI.
He directed the officials to institutionalise a mechanism wherein whistleblowers should be rewarded and asked all officers and staff of the FCI to report any incident of corruption.
Goyal said there is a need to transform, reform and reinvent the FCI and its entire ecosystem, including the ration shop dealers.
He described the recent development of corruption in the FCI as "unfortunate".
On January 11, the CBI launched 'Operation Kanak' on alleged corruption in the FCI, conducting searches at 50 locations in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi after arresting a DGM-rank officer from Chandigarh.
The CBI booked a total of 74 accused in the FIR after a six-month long undercover operation to identify suspects in the syndicate of officials, rice mill owners and middlemen, among others who were allegedly indulging in corrupt practices.
Goyal also said the transformation of FCI should be done on a fast track mode so that the organisation can continue to help the people, the poor and farmers of the country.
The minister also directed the Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution to monitor the transformation of FCI and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) every week and to update him on the status on a fortnightly basis.
He said strict action has to be taken against the officers who do not co-operate with or delay the transformation process.
Goyal praised the way the FCI carried out the world's largest food supply chain system, especially during the pandemic to ensure seamless supply of foodgrains under 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana' (PMGKAY).
He said despite the pandemic, no one slept hungry in the country.
Goyal said India has set a global example in the areas of food security, strengthening economic scenario, controlling inflation and others.
He mentioned that the rice procurement figures for the year are good and hoped for a robust wheat procurement in the coming season as well.
Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra directed FCI CMD Ashok KK Meena to ensure a system of eliminating corruption and providing an efficient and transparent service to the people.
According to the CBI FIR, an organised syndicate of FCI officers charged bribes ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000 per truck unloaded at godowns from private millers to overlook poor quality grains supplied by them and to extend other favours.
The booty was shared by officers at every level reaching up to the headquarters in a well-defined percentage of cuts at each level, it alleged.
