States to spend crores on Ration Bags with Narendra Modi photos
The government in various states will be required to spend a huge sum of exchequer money for the foodgrain sacks having PM Modi’s photo that will be distributed through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). Read More
Mumbai: The government in various states will be required to spend a huge sum of exchequer money for the foodgrain sacks having PM Modi’s photo that will be distributed through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
According to RTI Activist Ajay Basudev Bose, the Regional Office of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Jaipur has ordered 1,07,45,168 bags having PM Modi’s photo at the cost of INR 12.375 for one.
The supply order by the FCI Regional Office in Jaipur for around 1.08 crore rations bags has been given to five vendors – 03 of them from Rajasthan and 02 from Gujarat, according to the reply Bose has received in response of his RTI query.
In his RTI application Bose has sought details of the “information related to Synthetic Ration Bags with PM Modi printed image bought by the FCI for distribution of Ration to beneficiaries under Garib Kalyan Yojna’.
Bose listed four points in his RTI application including name and contractors, total number of ‘Modi Printed Synthetic Ration Bags’, their cost and amount paid to the contractors.
In its reply dated Feb 08, 2024, the FCI gave details related to the quantity, cost and name of the contractors and companies. It however said the FCI has so far not made any payment against the Supply Order of around 1.08 Crore rations bags around INR 13.29 Crores.
These figures are from only Rajasthan, there are 27 more states and 8 Union Territories (UTs) in India.
According to Central government data, the PMGKAY scheme, aimed at supplying free foodgrains to approximately 81.35 crore beneficiaries of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH), saw more than 75 crore beneficiaries receiving foodgrains between the fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Citing a circular dated January 12, 2024, The Hindu reported that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has directed all 26 of its regional offices to solicit tenders for woven laminated bags having pictures of Narendra Modi for distribution of foodgrains under the PMGKAY Scheme.
According to Hindu Nagaland has awarded the contract to Rajasthan Flexible Packaging at INR 9.30 per bag, as per the RTI reply from the FCI's Regional Office in Dimapur. However, the specific quantity of bags ordered in Nagaland was not detailed in the response.
On the other hand, the FCI Regional Offices in Maharashtra and Delhi said the tender process to purchase Modi printed bags are ongoing whereas FCI Tamil Nadu said it has floated the tender for the supply of around 1.14 crore bags, as per the FCI response to the RTI queries.
As per the earlier practice, people buying foodgrains on subsidized rates through Ration Shops used to carry their own bags. Bags with Modi images came into picture when the government started distributing free foodgrains after Covid-19.
Narendra Modi images are so important for the BJP-led government in New Delhi that Union Finance Minister Sitharaman had in September 2023 during a visit to Telangana personally asked all District Collectors to ensure Modi’s picture are put up at all the fair shops.
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