Criminal waste

 

 

This refers to Arindam Chaudhuri’s edit “Food wasted in FCI godowns…” (TSI, August 2-8). After the publication of this editorial, the authorities should address the glaring deficiencies in the storage of food grains in FCI storages. Poor maintenance, faulty storage possibly due to lack of fumigation and lack of attention have resulted in the colossal loss of 10,688 lakh tonnes of food grains over the years. As per an RTI report, all the FCI godowns in North, South, East, North East and West still have some capacity left. Against the total available capacity of 256.64 lakh tonnes, only 218.35 lakh tonnes has been used. Professor Chaudhuri has rightly pointed out that storing by Cover and Plinth (CAP) method has inherent drawbacks. Right to Food Act and Food Security Bill are aimed to make enough food available to all, particularly those below the poverty line (BPL). For the success of these schemes, all wastage of food must be stopped. Apart from the storage wastage, food is also wasted at many other levels like marriages, parties and restaurants. It should be stopped.

Poonam Gupta

New Delhi