Shri.Sudhanshu Pandey IAS, Secretary (Department of Food Public  Distribution), Govt. of India, visited the FCI Godown at Peelamedu Coimbatore. Shri.  Sanjeev Gautam FCI, Chief Genl. Manager (South Zone), Shri. P.N. Singh FCI, Genl.  Manager (TN), Dr.Sameeran IAS District Collector Coimbatore and Shri. N.Rajesh,  FCI, Divisional Manager(Coimbatore) accompanied him during the inspection, Shri.  Pandey checked the quality of food grains (Rice & wheat) available in the depot for  the distribution under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana , National Food  security Act & other Welfare schemes and was satisfied with the quality and also  appreciated the FCI officials for food preservation/storage. Dr.Sameeran IAS, District  Collector also acknowledged the good quality of food grains, being provided by FCI to  State govt for distribution.  
Secretary Food impressed upon the need for optimum utilization of the assets  of FCI under Asset Monetization scheme of Government of India. He directed to  explore the possibility of construction of SILO in the premises of the FCI Godown at  Peelamedu. He also gave directions to the FCI officers to get the approach road to the  Godown constructed within a period of 3 months for which a budget of Rs.3.6 crores  has already been sanctioned.  
Thereafter, Shri.Sudhanshu Pandey IAS along with Shri.Dr.Sameeran IAS &  other FCI officers & State Govt officials visited TNCSC PDS shop & Chinthamani  Cooperative. The quality of food grains available at the shops was checked. He also  interacted with the beneficiaries of that PDS shop & took feedback from the public.
The District Collector appraised the Secretary of Food about the efforts taken  by NGO “No Food Waste” run by Shri.Padmanabhan which connects the untouched  edible surplus to the needy people. He also informed that a Mobile Application for  NGO is under development to increase its scale & reach among the needy people.  Food Secretary appreciated the efforts undertaken and expressed his desire to share  this initiative at the national level with other states as well, for which a meeting shall  be scheduled after the development of Mobile APP. It also to mention here that, this  NGO has been accorded with the UN Consultative status.  
Shri.Sudhanshu Pandey advised the District Collector to undertake an  awareness campaign about the “ONE NATION ONE CARD” Scheme and he also 
directed the FCI officials to ensure availability of Fortified Food Grains in the FCI  Godowns for the issue under ICDS/ MDM to the beneficiaries.

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