Food Corporation of India (FCI)’s main objectives were to procure food grains directly from the farmers, supply them for PDS distribution and for maintaining price stability during scarcity. As we know so far, the recommendations of US-based consultancy firm M/s McKinsey & Co. with regards to FCI pose a serious threat to the very existence of the corporation and its workforce. It has made some retrograde recommendations for FCI like outsourcing its key operations including food grains procurement, handling, transportation and distribution; de-hiring and renting out of FCI godown; and targeted VRS to reduce the existing manpower. In the garb of FCI's improvement, the firm has advocated for the privatization of the corporation. High Level Commitee(HLC) Report on FCI is a true copy of s McKinsey & Co Report.
The proposal of reorganization/closure of west Bengal region was placed before FCI BOD in its 367th meeting on 19.12.2014. The FCI BOD has agreed to Reduce district offices from 19 to 12 and sent to Government for approval. After the closure of 7 district offices of West Bengal, 256 Employees will be transferred/redeployed from the region to North East Zone, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
The Central committee of FCI Employees Association CITU strongly condemns the decision initiated by the FCI Management with respect to Closure of 07 district offices in West Bengal Region. Consonance with the observation of global consultants McKinsey & Company report, FCI management has made this decision. Now the government has also approved the decision of FCI Management. The government's decision would destroy the public distribution system and will lead denial of food grains to poor people of west Bengal. The government and bureaucrats in FCI have a systematic plan to dismantle the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to attract “private investment in agricultural marketing channels. These steps will put the implementation food security act into disarray. The Central committee of FCI employees Association CITU, therefore, demands the Central government to put a stop to these new measures and urges upon the employees to oppose and protest these decisions.
We also appeal to all political parties in this country to resolute and raise voice against the decision of Government to completely privatize FCI operation would lead adversely affect the living conditions of the entire people of the country. The central committee experienced that if the cost of rice and wheat enhance, the cost other food items would be Simultaneously increased. If the sufficient food grains are not available in Government godowns the Multi-National Companies (MNC)s would raise to the occasion, and will start to hoarding the food grains and they will decide the cost of the market.such situation has already established in pulses. The existence of FCI prevents these MNC s to hoarding the food grains. If HLC reports implemented in toto, then no FCI is there. it is not the matter of FCI employees alone. It is the concern of this country. it is a matter of food security of the country. Hence the political parties in the country should decide whether this freedom for food should surrender for MNC.
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