Amount is as per sanctioned rates of Punjab Mandi Board & State level committee
e-KYC of 1.25 Crore National Food Security Act beneficiaries done till now
Chandigarh, May 29:
In a path breaking decision aimed at the welfare of the labourers engaged in loading work in the Mandis, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak today approved an amount of Rs. 373.81 Crore to be paid as increased wages to such labourers as per the sanctioned rates of the Punjab Mandi Board and the State level committee.
While reviewing the arrangements with regard to the Paddy procurement season, the Minister was apprised that as of now, 117 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of storage space is required and if starting from August this year, every month an average of 10 LMT foodgrain stock is moved out of the State then by January 2026 about 50 LMT of the storage space would be readily available.
It was also brought to the notice of the Minister that the draft of the Custom Miling Policy 2025-26 would be put up by the second week of June this year. Besides, the committee has been constituted for finalizing the draft tender for Fortified Rice Kernels.
The Minister emphasized the adequate arrangements concerning the Transport, Labour & Cartege Policy apart from the Gunny Bags keeping in view the forthcoming Paddy procurement season. The Minister was assured that by September 30th all these arrangements would be put in place.
Regarding the e-KYC procedure of the beneficiaries under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, the Minister was informed that the process has been completed in respect of 1.25 Crore beneficiaries.
The Minister also lauded the officers and employees of the department for ensuring a successful Wheat procurement season and exhorted them to repeat the success story during paddy procurement season also.
Among others present on the occasion included the Director Varinder Kumar Sharma, Additional Secretary PUNGRAIN Kamal Kumar Garg, Additional Director Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar and GM (Finance) Sarvesh Kumar.
