Food Corporation of India or FCI has achieved a rare distinction of transporting over 1,000 train loads (rakes) carrying around 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of food grains amid the lockdown period since 24 March 2020. Adding to it, it has also been able to unload around 950 rakes (about 2.7 MMT) in different states of the country in the same period.
It is to be noted that, on an average FCI is loading & unloading around 3 Lakh Metric Tonnes (about 60 Lakhs bags of 50 Kg each) every day from the start of covid-19 lockdown, which is almost double than its normal average.
FCI Working amid Covid-19 Nationwide Lockdown:
FCI has already delivered around 5.9 MMT of Food Grains to the state governments since nationwide lockdown under different schemes, which includes about 2 MMT under the PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) at an average of about 2.95 Lakh MT per day.
The complete workforce of FCI at every part of the country, which includes the far flung areas such as Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Leh, Arunachal Pradesh etc are working 24/7. To ensure, handling of combined operations of transport and delivery of about 6 Lakh Metric Tonnes (about 1.2 Crore bags of 50 Kg each) of food grains every day. The work is carried out uninterruptedly. Along with supplying stocks for regular NFSA & additional requirements, FCI is also ensuring that stocks are made available to NGOs & Welfare Organizations for undertaking relief operations for people facing food shortages in Covid 19 outbreak at subsidized rates.
