Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Launches Grievance Redressal Portal for Rice Millers
On Monday, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, introduced a new Grievance Redressal Portal for rice millers under the Food Corporation of India (FCI). This initiative aims to improve transparency and accountability in handling rice millers’ concerns.
Features of the Portal
The portal allows rice millers to directly register their grievances. Upon lodging a complaint, a three-member team will investigate within three days, engage with the millers, and recommend a resolution. If millers are not satisfied, their issues will be escalated to higher officials for further review. The process ensures all grievances are addressed transparently and resolved within seven days.
Government’s Commitment
Minister Joshi emphasized the government’s commitment to effective grievance redressal, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi regularly inquires about these mechanisms and guides improvements to make them more farmer- and consumer-friendly. Joshi also confirmed the government’s support for farmers, with rice procurement continuing as planned.
Current Rice Procurement Status
Joshi reported that rice lifting had reached approximately 4.5 lakh metric tons, with expectations to surpass 5 lakh metric tons soon. Sanjiv Chopra, Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, mentioned that FCI procures around 550 lakh metric tons of rice annually.
Additional Features
The app will assign a nodal officer or quick-response team to each case for on-ground inquiries, using geofencing technology to track mobile teams. If millers remain dissatisfied, senior officials will be involved to address the issues further.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a person who is part of the central government in India and is responsible for specific areas like education, health, or in this case, handling issues related to rice millers.
Pralhad Joshi -: Pralhad Joshi is an Indian politician who is currently serving as a Union Minister. He is responsible for launching the new portal to help rice millers.
Grievance Redressal Portal -: A Grievance Redressal Portal is an online platform where people can report their problems or complaints. In this case, it is for rice millers to report issues they face.
Rice Millers -: Rice millers are people or companies that process raw rice into the rice we eat. They play an important role in making sure we have rice to cook and eat.
Transparency and Accountability -: Transparency means being open and clear about what is happening, and accountability means being responsible for actions. Together, they help ensure that everyone knows what is going on and who is responsible for solving problems.
Geofencing -: Geofencing is a technology that uses GPS to create a virtual boundary around a real-world area. It helps track the location of things, like rice being transported, to make sure it goes where it is supposed to.
Metric Tons -: A metric ton is a unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms. It is used to measure large quantities, like the amount of rice being moved or sold.
Prime Minister Modi -: Prime Minister Modi is the current Prime Minister of India. He is the leader of the country and makes important decisions to help improve the lives of people in India.