New Delhi: Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday confirmed that he had received Congress president Sonia Gandhi's letter seeking relaxation in guidelines for procurement of wheat.
“I have received it and we will respond to Sonia ji's letter,” Paswan was quoted by ANI.
Paswan further said that the norms are being relaxed for the states which are contacting them about this.
In the letter, Sonia had requested the Centre to relax specifications, particularly with regards to moisture content.
“Existing manual of FCI (Food Corporation of India) specifies that if moisture content in rabi wheat crop exceeds 14%, the government would reject procuring such wheat. Additionally, a discount would be levied if the moisture content is 12-14%,” she has reportedly written.
"In normal circumstances such specifications may hold, but over the past few weeks unseasonal rains have severely damaged crops. I have personally visited affected areas and witnessed the acute distress that our farmers are facing,” the letter further stated.
She further stressed that “extraordinary situation calls for a suspension of regulations which are enforceable in ordinary conditions”.
