New Delhi: In commemorating the 60th Foundation Day of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal emphasized the need for FCI to become a trusted partner for farmers and citizens. Acknowledging FCI’s pivotal role in executing flagship schemes like Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Shri Goyal stressed the corporation’s responsibility to foster transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Goyal urged FCI to align with the government’s commitment to a corruption-free India, encouraging the staff to embrace transparency and act as whistleblowers. He outlined digitization and technology adoption as the second priority, emphasizing the need for quality improvement in inspection, procurement, transportation, distribution, and storage.
Shri Goyal praised FCI’s Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) operations for effectively moderating essential commodity prices. Highlighting interventions like Bharat Atta and Bharat Dal, he underscored FCI’s role in stabilizing prices of items like wheat and rice.
The Union Minister credited FCI with providing fair value for farmers’ produce and ensuring that distress sales are avoided. He called for continued efforts in strengthening dialogue with farmers. FCI, he noted, has entered the modern era with digitization, streamlined procurement processes, state-of-the-art laboratories, steel silos for improved storage, and enhanced monitoring through CCTV cameras.
The event was attended by Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary Department of Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ashok KK Meena, Chairman & Managing Director (C&MD) FCI, and other dignitaries.