NCCF Chairman Mr Virendra Singh who got reelected has plans to turn around the cooperative giant in this term of his chairmanship. Talking to Indian cooperative.com Mr Singh said that linkage with the state consumer federations is on his top agenda.
Iffco,Kribhco and even Nafed pass on business to their state level federation but NCCF had so far nothing to give which in turn has led to the weakening of ties, says Singh
He is optimistic that in the Food Security Bill, NCCF will have a major role to play. Sharad Pawar , the Union Agriculture Minister has plans to make NCCF a connecting link between farmers and consumers, asserted a confident Singh.
About 17.8 million tonnes of food grain, which can feed 140 million people for a month, is being wasted because of shortage of storage facilities.The Supreme Court has suggested that the government distribute food free of cost to the poor rather than let it go waste.
A working group was set up for the betterment of NCCF. The group is headed by Mr Rajiv Agrawal, secretary GOI and it has members such as Secretary cooperatives, govt of Rajasthan , secretary cooperative , govt of Maharashtra and the chairman of NCCF. The group has already prepared the report. It is likely to be submitted to the government on 19th August.
The report has recommended Rs 650 crores for NCCF and aims at opening model retail shops, procurement centres, ware houses, storage centres across the country
With the news of FCI allowing lakhs of tones of food grain to rot way, it is not unlikely that the union agriculture minister is pitching bigger role for NCCF.
Mr Virendra Singh sounded happy that NCCF is giving 5 percent dividend cheque to the government. Though the amount is small but what is significant is the fact that it the first time NCCF is giving dividend, concluded a beaming Chairman.
In his new term as the Chairman Virendra Singh will be closely followed by Indiancooperative.com to find agreement between his words and deeds. Keep a tab.